Congress Quote by Peter Fenn
“In the first 50 years of the filibuster, it was used only 35 times. But the last Congress alone had 112 cloture motions filed, plus threats of more. This is the tyranny of the minority.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Congressional Record, 2022
The filibuster, once rarely used, is now employed frequently, allowing a small minority to block legislation.
In simple terms: Minority can block many times.
Recognize procedural abuse.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Congressional debates
- policy advocacy
- civil rights campaigns
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does frequent filibustering affect governance?
- Can reforms balance minority protection and efficiency?
Overreliance can stall democratic action.