The filibuster is an oddity that harms American democracy
And it does not even stem from the constitution
IN THE AFTERMATH of a mass shooting at a primary school in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, two senators introduced a modest measure to require background checks on all gun sales. Out of 100 senators, 54 voted to move ahead with it. In almost every parliament in the world, such a majority would be enough to ensure passage. In the Senate it meant defeat.
This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline “Motion to dismiss”
From the March 13th 2021 edition
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