What's a Filibuster?

The President has announced that he will resubmit 20 judicial nominees to Federal District and Appeals courts that were not voted on by the full Senate. The candidates were denied a Senate vote by threats of Democratic filibusters. At stake is the ability of the President to name members of the judiciary. This move sets the stage for a Republican rule change disallowing the use of the filibuster in judicial nominations.

Fun facts about the Senate:

The concept of the filibuster can be found nowhere in the Constitution.

The so-called "cloture rule" that requires a supermajority to end debate (and therefore a filibuster) is not in the constitution either.

The cloture rule is established by Senate parlimentary rules.

Senate parlimentary rules can be changed by a simple majority.

The Constitution requires the Senate's advice and consent for judicial nominees. This implies a floor vote.

None of the 20 nominees were voted on by the whole Senate because the Dems used the filibuster.

Who's a threat to the Constitution again?

This is clearly being used to set the stage for a battle over a Supreme Court nominee.
- posted by Base10 @ 1:30 PM