filibustering
Talking bill to death
Filibustering is the use of prolonged speeches or procedural tactics to delay or block legislative action.
In the U.S.
Senate, a filibuster can hold the floor indefinitely, preventing a vote on pending business.
The tactic exploits rules allowing unlimited debate.
By extension, filibustering describes any deliberate obstruction through excessive talk: He was just filibustering to run out the clock.
Complete mutual obstruction
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- logjamObstruction halting flow
- blockadeSealing off a place
impediment · hindrance · bottleneck · standstill · thwarting · stonewalling · blocking · derailing
Legislative governing body
- clotureProcedure ending legislative discussion
- quorumMinimum for valid proceedings
- parliamentarianRules of order specialist
- amendmentChange to official text
parliament · bill · motion · reconciliation · legislation · adjournment · session · majority
Causing later occurrence
- prolongingExtending in time
- temporizingDeliberately delaying decision-making
- running out the clockConsuming remaining game time strategically
- dragging outExtending duration needlessly
Skillful directional control
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- strategic delayPurposeful postponement for benefit
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
bargaining chip · brinksmanship · political theater · showmanship
gridlock
Complete mutual obstruction
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
- stalemateMutual obstruction preventing progress
- logjamObstruction halting flow
blockade · impediment · hindrance · bottleneck · standstill · thwarting · stonewalling · blocking · derailing
senate
Legislative governing body
- clotureProcedure ending legislative discussion
- quorumMinimum for valid proceedings
- parliamentarianRules of order specialist
amendment · parliament · bill · motion · reconciliation · legislation · adjournment · session · majority · minority
delaying
Causing later occurrence
- prolongingExtending in time
- temporizingDeliberately delaying decision-making
- running out the clockConsuming remaining game time strategically
dragging out · postponing · deferring · time-wasting · reading aloud
maneuvering
Skillful directional control
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- strategic delayPurposeful postponement for benefit
leverage · bargaining chip · brinksmanship · political theater · showmanship
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- interferenceinterfering, meddling, intruding, butting in, obstructing
- interruptionsinterruption, cutting off, disruption, butting in, interjecting
- political tacticscampaigning, gerrymandering, campaigns, voter suppression, dirty tricks
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
- restrainingconstraining, restricting, limiting, confining, curbing
filibusteringexpediting
Making progress faster
fast-tracking · cloture · streamlining · unanimous consent · rubber-stamping
filibusteringdeliberating
Carefully thinking before deciding
debating · persuading · brevity · getting to the point · listening
filibusteringmajority rule
Decisions by greater number
simple majority · conceding · standing down · democratic process · consent of the governed
filibuster, freebooter, filibusters, filibustered, filibusterer