Sydney University Intro to American Government Paper – Description
Discussion 1: The Filibuster
In Lecture 5, we discussed several aspects of the role of the filibuster in the Senate:
how its usage has changed over time, in both circumstance and frequency
why it is such a valuable tool for the minority
the disadvantages and advantages of its use as a procedural tool
its impact on current political outcomes and President Biden’s agenda
proposals for changing its usage, and prospects for success
The filibuster is also a topic of heavy discussion in the media, and has been over the past several years, given that it is the main impediment to the majority party being able to implement their policy agenda. As discussed in lecture, the filibuster can be removed by a simple majority of senators, and could therefore in theory be eliminated by members of the Democratic party alone, provided 50 out 51 senators who caucus with them were to agree. Senators Manchin (WV) and Sinema (AZ) have become the focus of this discussion, given their current refusal to vote to eliminate the filibuster.
Considering all of the above, your discussion topic for the week:
What should be done about the filibuster? Should the filibuster be eliminated, or should it be maintained by the Senate? In your post, you should consider much of the following:
To what extent should the minority be protected by filibuster? Should a simple majority determine outcomes in the Senate? Why or why not?
Instead of eliminating the filibuster, should a compromise modification be made? Some have proposed lowering the number of votes needed to end debate (currently 60) to 55 or lower. Others have suggested this number should decrease to 50 over the course of a couple weeks to allow for debate but also to avoid gridlock. Still others have suggested forcing a live, talking filibuster. What do you think?
Imagine if the Republicans currently controlled Congress and the White House, rather than Democrats. In the scenario, would you prefer the filibuster to remain in place or not? Does your answer change? If so, consider what the best overall long-term solution to this problem is. Does one party benefit from the filibuster, long-term, more than the other?
How likely is it that the filibuster will be ended in the next year? Five years? Ever? Why?
Writing a good Discussion Post
Your post should be 6-8 sentences minimum. You are welcome (and encouraged) to write as much as you would like.
Your post should practice persuasive writing. Imagine you are trying to convince others to adopt your position. Try to write in a way that will win over people on the fence, or maybe even on the other side, rather than speaking in a way that pleases those who already agree with you.
If you don’t have a strong position, that’s OK! Ultimately, you should try to pick a clear position (maintain the filibuster or modify/eliminate it), even if you are on the fence. On balance, which is the best solution? Taking a clear position, even if you are unsure, will make for better writing and more interesting thinking.
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