A filibuster is a tactic used in the United States Senate to delay or block a vote on a measure by preventing debate on it from ending. The Senate's rules place few restrictions on debate. In general,
United States Senator Warren Austin speaking during an all night filibuster, July 1939
Political cartoon depicting the multiple-day Republican filibuster of the Ship Purchase Act (1915).
Headline in The Philadelphia Inquirer of November 16, 1919, reporting the first use of cloture by the United States Senate
Mitch McConnell
Videos
Addison Mitchell McConnell III is an American politician and attorney who has been a United States senator from Kentucky since 1985 and has been Kentucky's senior U.S. senator since 1999. A member of
Filibuster in the United States Senate
…confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. The vote was 52–48 against sustaining the decision of the chair on a point of order raised by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. 61 Senators from both parties later wrote a letter to Senate leadership, urging them to preserve the filibuster for legislation. In 2019, the Senate…
Official portrait, 2016
McConnell in duPont Manual High School's 1960 yearbook
McConnell during the 99th United States Congress, 1985
President Ronald Reagan in a meeting with McConnell in the Oval Office in March 1987