filibuster synonym history
Define filibuster. How to use filibuster in a sentence. Primary Politics. 2009. The filibuster was unwittingly created in 1789 during a revamping of the Senate’s rules at former Vice President Aaron Burr’s suggestion, which removed a provision allowing any member to call for a vote, thus ending the debate. It came into English usage to designate any irregular military adventurer, such as the Americans who took part in Latin American insurrections in the 1850s. A filibustering senator may endlessly debate an issue, introduce time-consuming procedural motions, or use any other means to obstruct or prevent action. The word is derived from the Spanish filibustero (“freebooting”) and originally described piratical 16th-century privateers. Brief History of the Filibuster . Filibuster History. The word filibuster, though, lived on as a synonym for any furtive attempt to defend the slave interest and, after that, white supremacy by subverting legitimate political procedure. Coming from a Dutch word meaning “pirate,” the term filibuster was first used in the 1850s when it was applied to efforts to hold the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill. b. As a tactic, a filibuster should be judged on which party is in control, what the substance of the bill contains, and what true purpose the filibuster is being used for. The obstructing or delaying of legislative action, especially by prolonged speechmaking. from NPR, All Things Considered, Listen -- May 18, 2005 MICHELE NORRIS: The word 'filibuster' comes from piracy.. MELISSA BLOCK: The … History of the Word Filibuster. Filibuster definition is - an irregular military adventurer; specifically : an American engaged in fomenting insurrections in Latin America in the mid-19th century. Related Books. Senators have done everything from reading Shakespeare to reciting the Constitution to […] 1 ‘it is an abuse of the house for the opposition to filibuster’ SYNONYMS waste time , stall, play for time, stonewall, procrastinate, buy time, employ delaying tactics The most famous filibuster in history was dramatized in the classic Hollywood 1939 movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Using filibusters to delay or block action on bills in the Senate has a long history. In those days, when Americans spoke of filibusters, … History of the Word Filibuster The word filibuster goes back to a Dutch word for "freebooter," someone who took booty or loot. There is a lot of talk about American politics, and (in the past) much of the world looked to the American governmental system for guidance. A Final Word. Advice and Dissent. filibuster synonyms, filibuster pronunciation, filibuster translation, English dictionary definition of filibuster. n. 1. a. In this version of history, the filibuster was a critical part of the framers’ Senate. The filibuster is a tactic used in the U.S. Senate to block or delay action on a bill or other measure. Filibuster was in use in the political sense by the mid-1800s. It came to mean a … An instance of this, especially a prolonged speech. By Sarah A. Binder and Forrest Maltzman. Derived from a Dutch word for freebooter , the word first appeared in English before the Civil War.