Filibusters are permitted by the Senate’s tradition of unlimited debate, a characteristic that distinguishes it from the House of Representatives. In the early years of Congress, representatives as well as senators could filibuster. As the House of Representatives grew in numbers, however, revisions to the House rules limited debate. In the smaller Senate, unlimited debate continued on the grounds that any senator should have the right to speak as long as necessary on any issue. The term filibuster is derived from a word for pirates or soldiers of fortune. The term originated in the House, although the modern House seldom experiences delay arising from a prolonged debate.
The Senate also proudly claims to be a more deliberative body than the House. Initially, the filibuster was used to delay voting so that the issues could be considered more carefully over a longer period of time. Wherein representatives may be quick to bring issues to the attention of Congress that are important in a single congressional district, the Senate usually considers broader implications that affect a state or the nation as a whole. George Washington described the Senate as the saucer where passions cool. But many people believe the modern filibuster impedes rather than encourages deliberation. Once reserved for the bitterest and most important battles—over slavery, war, civil rights—critics say filibusters today have been trivialized over petty issues.
