Under the legislative filibuster, most legislation in the U.S. Senate requires a 60-vote supermajority to overcome a filibuster and proceed to passage.
November 24, 2025
high
procedural
Cloture threshold used to end debate on legislation in the Senate.
The legislative filibuster enables a Senate minority to block or delay legislation, functioning as a de facto veto by the minority party.
November 24, 2025
high
institutional
Describes the practical effect of the filibuster on Senate lawmaking.
The Senate filibuster was introduced in 1806.
January 01, 1806
medium
temporal
Historical origin date commonly cited for the filibuster rule in the U.S. Senate.