The hottest Filibuster Substack posts right now

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Fasten your wonk belt: let's talk filling the tree in the Senate

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 02 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Senate House Political strategy Filibuster
  1. In the Senate, any senator can propose amendments to a bill, which means a lot of ideas can be discussed, even if they are not directly related to the bill. This makes the Senate a place for open debate.
  2. Filling the tree is a process where the majority leader can limit the amendments that can be made to a bill, essentially blocking others from changing the proposed legislation. This can help the majority pass their ideas without unwanted changes.
  3. The House of Representatives has stricter rules that allow the majority to control the amendments more tightly, which some say limits true democratic discussion. In this sense, the Senate has more room for debate compared to the House.

Polarization and the filibuster

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 01 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Polarization Filibuster Legislation Government Partisanship
  1. The system of government is designed to prevent majority rule, which can sometimes hinder consensus. There are many features, like the filibuster, that make it harder for one party to dominate policy-making.
  2. People often focus on the filibuster as the main reason for legislative gridlock, but it might not be as crucial as other factors. Even without it, there can still be significant barriers to passing laws.
  3. Removing the filibuster won't necessarily lead to more compromise. Instead, it could change how power operates in Congress without improving representation or leading to better decision-making.

In Which A Whig Thinks About Recess Appointments

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 04 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Executive Power Filibuster Congress Political strategy
  1. There are two key ideas at odds when it comes to government appointments: keeping Congress involved in appointments and ensuring that the government runs smoothly even when Congress is out of session. Both are important for a functioning democracy.
  2. The way Congress operates today is very different from when the Constitution was written. Shorter breaks and more frequent sessions mean that the need for recess appointments isn't as pressing as it once was.
  3. There's still confusion about what exactly counts as a 'recess' for making appointments. Different interpretations can lead to a lot of disagreement and may shift power between the presidency and Congress.

Hardball and HARDBALL

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 13 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Filibuster Political strategy
  1. The Senate operates largely on norms, but these norms are being pushed aside for strict adherence to rules, which can lead to short-term wins but long-term consequences.
  2. As individual Senators aim for their goals, they often avoid playing absolute hardball since it could harm their future ambitions and cooperation with others.
  3. Changing Senate rules can only happen through extreme measures, and while hardball tactics are causing concern, they might also lead to solutions by forcing necessary changes.

Filibusters and Cloture

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Senate Filibuster Political strategy
  1. Filibusters are tricky to measure because not all of them get recorded, and political decisions can change how many cloture votes are taken. This makes it hard to see the true level of obstruction in the Senate.
  2. Using the number of failed cloture votes as proof of filibusters isn't foolproof. Sometimes, votes fail not because of obstruction but due to party preferences.
  3. The number of filibusters isn't the only important thing; the overall size of the legislative agenda matters too. More legislation can mean more chances for filibusters, even if the percentage of filibustered items goes down.
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