Filibuster Reform

We're convinced that the Senate's power to adopt its own rules is limited to rules that do not conflict with the Constitutio

Does a case for banning the use of the filibuster in the Senate stand a chance of success with the Supreme Court? This lawsuit has real promise. But it will have to overcome some potential obstacles.

WASHINGTON -- Would-be Dream Act beneficiaries aren't just angry that the bill failed in the Senate in 2010: Some also are joining a lawsuit seeking a...

Lots of people agree that our government is currently bogged down in a morass of dysfunction that's so disastrous that it's basically criminal. And I ...

WASHINGTON -- One of the Senate's departing moderate Republicans expressed openness on Tuesday to the idea of filibuster reform, lamenting the ideolog...

The filibuster does not extend debate -- its supposed purpose -- it stops debate. It's an affront to our democracy, and it has real consequences for real people. That's why Common Cause filed suit on Monday to stop it.

WASHINGTON -- After an exasperated rant about Republican obstructionism, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday night that it's time...

WASHINGTON — Many would-be federal office holders would be freed from nomination limbo with legislation to exempt some 200 presidential appointe...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), one of the chief proponents of the kind of rules reform that died in the upper chamber this week, said Friday t...

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have reached an agreement on a set of relatively ...

WASHINGTON -- The window to change the Senate rules during this session through a simple majority vote ended without action last night as lawmakers in...

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) predicted on Tuesday morning that Democrats and Republicans would come to an agreement on revamping some bas...

WASHINGTON -- Hoping to craft a set of rules changes that will have the support needed to get through the chamber, Senate Democrats have begun scaling...

What spurred civil rights advocates to mobilize around this filibuster issue remains true today: the basic civil rights of all Americans should never be subject to the whims of one person.

Political games prevent Senators from even beginning to debate some of the most important issues. This week, my colleagues and I have begun a process to challenge the broken rules in the Senate and reform the filibuster.

Imagine how much more honest the Senate will be if the Udall/Merkley proposal passes. You want to filibuster something, you're gonna have to get up on your feet and rock it Jimmy Stewart (or Bernie Sanders) style.

With Reporting By Ryan Grim WASHINGTON -- The handful of Senate Democrats proposing to overhaul the upper chamber's rules and procedures released the...

***UPDATED BELOW*** WASHINGTON -- Republican leaders launched a coordinated attack against Democratic proposals to reform Senate rules Tuesday, makin...

It's time to make sure that any senators who want to hold up the business of the Senate show up and own their obstruction -- instead of making empty threats while keeping our country from moving forward.

WASHINGTON -- Operatives leading the lobbying effort for Senate rules reform said Monday that they expect Democrats to delay consideration of the issu...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A group of reform-minded senators believe they have a strong chance of changing the way the Senate does business in the next year, wi...

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's role confirms our government is not operating as a democracy ruled by the will of the majority, but as a strangled entity tightly in the grasp of the minority and its take-no-prisoners leader.

All Democratic senators returning next year have signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., urging him to consider action to change...

WASHINGTON -- The White House is preparing a major grassroots push to pass the DREAM Act next year, which President Obama said Wednesday was one of hi...

WASHINGTON -- Some Senate Democrats leading the push for filibuster reform say they plan to discuss possible rule changes during a full caucus meeting...