Filibusteringjust the everpresent threat of filibusteringhas subtle and pernicious effects on the legislative process. Time and again we have seen the possibility of filibuster used to defeat. delay. or compromise proposed legislationand not only civilrights legislation. although in that field its workings can be seen most clearly. The consideration of measures in the fields of housing. minimum wage. immigration. and education has been impeded or thwarted in vital respects by the availability of the filibuster. A filibusterthe effort by a minority to prevent the majority from ever reaching a vote on a measure the minority opposesis possible only because of rule XXII. As it now stands. with the slight improvement of 1959. rule XXII provides that cloture. limitation of debate. can be secured only by a twothirds vote of the Senators present and voting.
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immigration