Statistics on Cloture Motions

93rd-110th Congresses

Updated: 19 September 2007

Rule 22
The filibuster is related to "cloture," a rule adopted almost 100 years ago requiring a two-thirds vote to close debate on a bill and bring it to a vote.

In 1975, the Senate reduced the number of votes needed to invoke cloture to three-fifths (60) of Senate membership. At the same time, they made the filibuster "invisible" by requiring only that 41 Senators state that they intend to filibuster; critics say this makes the modern filibuster "painless."

Also, see Overview: US Senate, Filibuster, Rules of the Senate: Filibuster & Cloture, Filibuster Busted: 7 GOP Senators Call For Debate

Source: US Senate