Great description of what is going on. Nixon's move in 1958 was a gutsy attempt to end the filibuster by Southern Democrats against Eisenhower's Civil Rights Act. Ultimately, Nixon succeeded. Nixon ended his threat to adjourn the Senate and reconvene it with new rules (sans the filibuster) in exchange for LBJ, then the majority leader, agreeing to end the filibuster. However, LBJ then insisted on Rule V, which stipulates that the Senate remains the only legislature in perpetual session. Thus, preventing future VPs like Nixon from ending the filibuster through a simple rules change. At the beginning of a session, the Rules can be passed by a simple majority. However, changing the rules mid-term requires a 2/3 vote to end a filibuster—the only exception to the 60-vote cloture rule.
Thanks for summarizing Parliamentary Rule lesson #101. Too bad some Members and staff haven't bothered to get a briefing on the background of the Rule and Byrd.
I've been wondering just who the parliamentarian was and what she was up to. Thanks for clarifying. My guess is either the press doesn't know what's going on or it is trying to cast leftist sand in the gears by not reporting accurately on the parliamentarian's duties. Hard to tell which.
Both things can be true. Occam's Razor suggests that the simplest explanation is most likely the correct one, and that's what I'm trying to do in this post. The media is either pushing a partisan narrative or lacks an understanding of the process, or both. The press is less interested in uncovering the truth and explaining it than in determining "who benefits."
Great description of what is going on. Nixon's move in 1958 was a gutsy attempt to end the filibuster by Southern Democrats against Eisenhower's Civil Rights Act. Ultimately, Nixon succeeded. Nixon ended his threat to adjourn the Senate and reconvene it with new rules (sans the filibuster) in exchange for LBJ, then the majority leader, agreeing to end the filibuster. However, LBJ then insisted on Rule V, which stipulates that the Senate remains the only legislature in perpetual session. Thus, preventing future VPs like Nixon from ending the filibuster through a simple rules change. At the beginning of a session, the Rules can be passed by a simple majority. However, changing the rules mid-term requires a 2/3 vote to end a filibuster—the only exception to the 60-vote cloture rule.
Thanks for summarizing Parliamentary Rule lesson #101. Too bad some Members and staff haven't bothered to get a briefing on the background of the Rule and Byrd.
Very informative, as usual. Thanks
I've been wondering just who the parliamentarian was and what she was up to. Thanks for clarifying. My guess is either the press doesn't know what's going on or it is trying to cast leftist sand in the gears by not reporting accurately on the parliamentarian's duties. Hard to tell which.
Both things can be true. Occam's Razor suggests that the simplest explanation is most likely the correct one, and that's what I'm trying to do in this post. The media is either pushing a partisan narrative or lacks an understanding of the process, or both. The press is less interested in uncovering the truth and explaining it than in determining "who benefits."