Question: Can A Senator Hold His Own Filibuster Aka Mr. Smith Anymore ???

[WillyT]

And if not, WHY NOT ???

:shrug:

[cally]

1. Yes, but if 60 Senators vote

for cloture then the filibuster ends. So, we need 40 Senators to support the filibuster.

Hi Willy :hi:

[WillyT]

2. So... Even Though Mr. Smith Holds The Floor, And...

His comrades come to his side to keep the floor, somebody from the other side can take the floor away from them??? How can the other side get the floor back, once it has been given and monopolized?

:shrug:

Hi Cally :hi:

[BrotherBuzz]

4. Who owns the gavel?

I'm just saying...:shrug:

[Idioteque]

5. Here's how it works.

As long as any member wishes to speak, the chair isn't allowed to call the vote. In order to force a vote, 16 Senators can sign a cloture petition. Once they have gathered the signatures, they are allowed to interrupt the debate to present it. The petition is set aside for at least 24 hours. Then, the chair will suspend the debate and call a vote on cloture. If 60 Senators vote in the affirmative, the debate is limited to 30 more hours. After 30 hours, the vote is called.

Edit:Here is the cloture petition for Pricilla Owen, in case you wanted to see what one looks like. :)

[Silverhair]

7. Thank you for solid information. NT

[WillyT]

10. Thank You... Great Info !!!

:bounce::hi::bounce:

[cally]

6. I assume the Senators holding the filibuster stop

and then the chair can then hold the vote. If Alito has the vote, then he's confirmed. The filibuster only works to prevent the vote.

[Innocent Smith]

3. Nope

The Senate rules on cloture were first changed in 1917 to a 2/3 vote and then changed again in 1975 to 60 votes.

[Silverhair]

8. One senator couldn't do it, even back then.

Movies are a really bad place to get information from.

[...of J.Temperance]

9. Didn't Senator Huey Long do a Mr. Smith filibuster? He did two of them

In 1933, he took part in a three week filibuster against the Glass-Steagall Act. Then in 1935, he did his own filibuster and spoke non-stop for fifteen and a half hours.

Senator Huey Long did a Mr. Smith.

On Edit: To add information.

[Silverhair]

11. Read carefully what you said.

A lone filibuster for 15.5 hours isn't much of a filibuster.

Taking part in a filibuster with others is NOT a one man filibuster.

[...of J.Temperance]

12. Okay :)

You're correct.