Constitution Connection
What is the President’s Role in Our Constitutional System?
- Voting closed
2 votes, 50% yes, 50% no
Should the Senate Reform the Filibuster?
64.8% yes
35.2% no
The filibuster has long been a contentious topic in American politics. There has been a tendency for political parties that have a minority number of seats in the Senate to see it as an important defensive tool. At the same time, majority parties have tended to see it as a powerful obstruction to the will of the people. The debate has once again emerged as Congress considers raising the debt ceiling.
Those who support reforming the filibuster contend that it is a violation of the principles of democracy. They claim that in its current form it allows the minority party to stop any and all legislation that it does not support, and therefore prevents a duly elected majority from carrying out the will of Americans. Additionally, they may argue that no other part of our government requires a super-majority to pass or sign a law, so the Senate should be no different.
Those who oppose reforming the filibuster contend that the procedure is an important tool in a bi-partisan form of government. They argue that requiring a super-majority (in this case 60%) agree to move forward with a vote on a law helps build moderation and consensus because members of the ruling party will need to consider the interests of the minority party. Additionally, they may argue that the fact that other parts of government don’t require a super-majority to sign or pass a law makes it even more important for it to continue existing in order to protect minority rights.
So, what do you think? Should the Senate Reform the Filibuster? Students may answer Yes, it should; No, it should not; or a nuanced answer in-between!
Note: Ideal Think the Vote responses include the following:
-Address the question asked in a thoughtful and meaningful manner
-Use cited facts and constitutional arguments when appropriate to support their answers
-Are expressed in cohesive sentences and are free of distracting spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors
-They address counter-arguments and opposing concerns in a respectful manner
-They organize their answer in a manner that flows logically and reads clearly
Current Standings
No I do not believe the government has the right to change the rules within the government on this issue. The United States has been a successful nation due to…
I think the senate should reform the filibuster because it is undemocratic. It grants the minority a large amount of power and therefore interferes with the principle of the majority…
The filibuster should not be reformed or removed. Although it seems outdated and unfair, the filibuster allows the minority in the Senate to maintain their voice on important legislation. This…
This week during the “Think the Vote” they debated whether the Senate should reform the Filibuster. After reading both sides of the argument I think that the Senate should reform…
The filibuster is important because it encourages change and compromise. If it weren't for the filibuster, the majority party would almost always get their way, developing a one sided government.…
I believe that congress should reform the filibuster because the filibuster appears nowhere in the constitution. This legislative blockade cannot stand. Others in the Senate, including Democrats and the Independents…
I personally believe that there needs to be a rule in place to ensure that no party is able to somehow bend the rules.
I believe that the filibuster should be reformed. The filibuster grants the minority too much power, why should we have decisions disregarded and delayed due to a small minority. You…
The filibuster is an important part of American democracy, first and foremost because it gives the minority opinion a voice. Many aspects of American political structure are founded on the…
I believe that the senate should put a stop to the filibusters because it is unfairly pushing aside important topics, and causing them to not be debated about. The faster…