As the Legislature enters the next stage of full-day debate, this newsletter aims to explore the role of filibustering and how it shapes the policy- making process. A filibuster is a tactic used by legislators to delay or block a vote on a bill or nomination by extending debate. In Nebraska, filibustering often takes the form of prolonged speeches or procedural maneuvers designed to prevent a bill from being voted on successfully before the end of a legislative session or to force the introduction of amendments to modify or derail a bill.
Filibustering has evolved over time. In the early years following the establishment of the Unicameral system, the legislature was largely dominated by party leaders, with little room for extended debates or filibusters. However, as political dynamics shifted, and as the influence of individual senators grew, so did the use of the filibuster.
In the Nebraska Legislature, a senator can filibuster a bill until there is a motion to invoke “cloture,” essentially a vote to end debate and immediately move toward a final vote. To invoke cloture, it requires that full and fair debate has been afforded as determined by the presiding officer and a two-thirds vote of the senators (33 out of 49).
