Show Originally Aired: 6/11/2003 CALL 1 800-423-TALK
The Filibuster Battle
U.S. Senate of the late 1800s (Image: Senate.gov) Email to friend
Filibusters and other political war games. It's been five months of intense partisan battling since President Bush nominated two federal judges to the bench. To block his choices, Senate Democrats are wielding that time-honored tool of the minority, the filibuster.
Now Republicans, frustrated by the stalemate, are proposing to change the rules on the filibuster when it comes to Presidential nominations. So who's not playing fair? Democrats say it's their right to use the filibuster to constrain the power of the Republican majority, while the Republicans say the Democrats are going too far, twisting and distorting the rules in a desperate bid to retain some power in Washington. Parliamentary rules, partisanship, and the changing rules of debate.
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Dr. John C. Eastman, Professor of Law at Chapman University School of Law, Orange, CA
Michael J. Gerhardt
Professor of Law at William & Mary Law School
Williamsburg, VA.
