Cloture: Its Effect on Senate Proceedings

Publication Date: December 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

Long known for its emphasis on lengthy deliberation, the Senate in most circumstances allows its Members to debate issues for as long as they want. Further, the Senate has few ways either to limit the duration of debates or to bring filibusters (extended “talk-a-thons”) to an end. For instance, a Senator may offer a non-debatable motion to table (or kill) an amendment or he or she might ask unanimous consent to restrict debate on pending matters. The Senate has one formal rule — Rule XXII — for imposing limits on the further consideration of an issue. Called the cloture rule (for closure of debate), Rule XXII became part of the Senate rules in 1917 and has been amended several times since. This fact sheet, one in a series of fact sheets on legislative process, discusses cloture. For more information on legislative process, see [http://www.crs.gov/products/guides/guidehome.shtml].