Filibustering: A Political History of Obstruction in the House and Senate

Chicago Studies in American Politics

by Gregory Koger

In the modern Congress, one of the highest hurdles for major bills or nominations is gaining the sixty votes necessary to shut off a filibuster in the Senate.  But this wasn’t always the case. Both citizens and scholars tend to think of the legislative process as a game played by the rules in which votes are the critical commodity—the side that has the most votes wins. In this comprehensive volume, Gregory Koger shows, on the contrary, that filibustering is a game with slippery rules in which legislators who think fast and try hard can triumph over superior numbers.

Filibustering explains how and why obstruction has been institutionalized in the U.S. Senate over the last fifty years, and how this transformation affects politics and policymaking. Koger also traces the lively history of filibustering in the U.S. House during the nineteenth century and measures the effects of filibustering—bills killed, compromises struck, and new issues raised by obstruction. Unparalleled in the depth of its theory and its combination of historical and political analysis, Filibustering will be the definitive study of its subject for years to come.

Genres: Political Science, History, Politics, Nonfiction, Ebooks

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in grad school and remember it being very illuminating.

[Mike Brisson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough account of the history of the filibuster, which should be plural. As this book makes clear, there are numerous ways to filibuster, and Koger goes through them all.

There are a lot of details and examples in this book, and can bog one down while reading it. Still, it is a great explanation of the history of filibustering, and serves as a guide as to what may come next.

[John Paschold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent work by Greg Koger. Provides timely solutions (that are still applicable today, even though the book was written 15 years ago) and a deep history of obstruction in both chambers. Truly a work that gets you thinking - and you learn a lot about how both chambers have responded to obstruction (not just filibustering) over the years and decades.

[Steven Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The filibuster in the Senate has become, especially in the last decade or so, a major feature of the institutional structure of US politics. Indeed, I am of the opinion that it is far more significant than most people realize and is a topic in need of discussion and debate.

Koger's book is an excellent overview of the development of this mechanism as well as an analysis of its significance within the the functioning of the Senate, as well as the Congress writ large. In fact, he deals with filibustering tactics in the House over time as well.

The book functions as both a history and an analysis of contemporary politics. While written for an academic audience, the style of the book is such that it could easily be consumed by a general audience as well.

The book should be of interest to both those focused on American politics but also to comparativists interested in institutional design.

[Du · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthwhile kook into the complexity and crazy aspects of the filibuster. I liked the narrative and the history, but did find the book frustrating. It want never of the writing or organization, instead it was the idea that this tool is abused and is designed in such a way, that it encourages abuse.

[Aviva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually a pretty interesting read once it got going. The author was a little on the defensive and repeated himself some. But I learned a lot.

[Brent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too boring.

[Zack Paganini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good, detailed, precise account of House and Senate obstructionism.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprehensive analysis of the filibuster in both Houses. Strong in that it uses both statistical data as well as anecdotal.