Can Someone Explain the Filibuster?

So it looks like Republicans are filibustering Hagel's nomination.

Can someone explain to me how the filibuster works and why it exists? I frequently read about how this wasn't so common in the past but they never really get into whats changed or how it works. So why does it require 60 votes? What's changed?

These are all honest questions - no political motives here. I'm genuinely curious. Thanks.

What's changed is that a Senator used to have to hold the floor, speaking non-stop to filibuster, which prevents a vote on a bill.

Now he just notifies them of his objection. Much too easy.

It takes 60 votes to override his objection.

Quote from 124nic8 : What's changed is that a Senator used to have to hold the floor, speaking non-stop to filibuster, which prevents a vote on a bill. Now he just notifies them of his objection. Much too easy. It takes 60 votes to override his objection.

So why doesn't the opposing party just call them on it and make them hold the floor?

Quote from Dem Bums : So why doesn't the opposing party just call them on it and make them hold the floor?

The Dems were threatening to do that earlier. They could do it with a simple majority on one day.

But they chickened out for some reason.

Quote from Dem Bums : So it looks like Republicans are filibustering Hagel's nomination. Can someone explain to me how the filibuster works and why it exists? I frequently read about how this wasn't so common in the past but they never really get into whats changed or how it works. So why does it require 60 votes? What's changed? These are all honest questions - no political motives here. I'm genuinely curious. Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fili...tes_Senate

We have a bunch of lazy catfooters in office so the threat of a filibuster is sufficient to act as a filibuster.

Quote from 124nic8 : But they chickened out for some reason.

Everybody wants to defend the status quo. In the end, neither Democrats or Republicans really want things to change. They can each envision themselves with 40+ Senator minorities. The fact that the Republcians are using the filibuster to block a defense secretary is a new level of obstruction, though. And to link Hagel's nomination with Benghazi is just beyond absurd.

Quote from 124nic8 : The Dems were threatening to do that earlier. They could do it with a simple majority on one day. But they chickened out for some reason.

there's a lot of reasons. one big reason is that a few probably like being the 55th vote on a measure they know won't pass. that way they can wring their hands and say "look we tried!"

Quote from Dem Bums : So why does it require 60 votes?

It requires 60 votes to cloture, which is to put a time limit on debate (filibuster) before the bill comes to a vote.

Quote from 124nic8 : But they chickened out for some reason.

Democrats chickened out because they couldn't get 60 votes to cloture.

The process is being delayed because Democrats still need one more Republicans for cloture. The problem is a lot of the more flexible Republicans like McCain / Graham are are blocking Hagel's nomination, so Democrats have much less Republican votes to work with.

I can't see a practical justification for this to be acceptable - I mean, it's sole purpose is to use procedure to block something from happening - to prevent a vote.

Quote from roughnready : The fact that the Republcians are using the filibuster to block a defense secretary is a new level of obstruction, though.

Completely new... [nytimes.com]

Quote : Blocking such a high-level presidential appointee is a rare move. Since 1917, when the Senate’s modern filibuster rules were created, a cabinet-level nominee has faced a supermajority barrier to confirmation only twice: Ronald Reagan’s nominee for commerce secretary in 1987, C. William Verity Jr., and George W. Bush’s nominee for interior secretary in 2006, Dirk Kempthorne.

Quote from Lilian : Democrats chickened out because they couldn't get 60 votes to cloture. The process is being delayed because Democrats still need one more Republicans for cloture. The problem is a lot of the more flexible Republicans like McCain / Graham are are blocking Hagel's nomination, so Democrats have much less Republican votes to work with.

According to what I've heard, on the first day of a new Senate, the rules can be changed with a simple majority. The Dems were threatening to change the filibuster rules then, but chickened out.

Quote from Dr. J : I can't see a practical justification for this to be acceptable - I mean, it's sole purpose is to use procedure to block something from happening - to prevent a vote.

Well a filibuster is technically considered to be 'debate'...

Quote from paperboy05 : Completely new... [nytimes.com]

Not to take anything away from them, but commerce secretary and interior secretary isn't even in the same ballpark as secretary of defense.