Supreme Court

The Evolution Of Filibuster And Cloture

Lots of filibuster and cloture talk in the news, but do you know the history there?

Mitch McConnell

Mitch McConnell

Before today’s Senate rule change, which closes debate on a Supreme Court nominee with a simple majority (51 votes) — the prior cloture threshold was three-fifths (60 votes) in the Senate — what year was the threshold for the cloture vote lowered to 60 votes?

Hint: When adopted in 1917, the cloture rule required a two-thirds majority vote.

See the answer on the next page.

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