DEBATERS
Richard Arenberg is a visiting professor of political science at Brown University. His books include Congressional Procedure: A Practical Guide to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress and Defending the Filibuster: Soul of the Senate, coauthored with former Senate parliamentarian Robert Dove.
Sarah A. Binder is a professor of political science at The George Washington University, senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution and the author or coauthor of several books about Congress, including Politics or Principle?: Filibustering in the U.S. Senate.
One thought on “Moment Debate | Is the Filibuster Good for Democracy?”
Filibuster in general is positive for U.S. Senate. It protects small states or regions from being run over by larger states or regions with more states.
The filibuster has been abused past two decades, so needs reform, but not elimination. As a minimum, it should return to traditional use as a talking filibuster. Also should reverse rule of needing 60 percent vote to end it, and instead require 40 percent to continue a filibuster.
If it is eliminated now, liberals will rue the day when we have a conservative dominated Senate with sufficient votes to pass legislation they find offensive.