The U.S. Constitution does not limit length or nature of debate on floors of Senate or House of Representatives. The House has since adopted rules which limit length of debate since House has a very large number of Representatives. But smaller Senate has always upheld right of a recognized Senator to debate an issue for as long as he or she wishes to hold floor. Senate Rule 19 and Rule 22, cloture rule adopted in 1917, create some guidelines for conducting a debate and for closing debate when it becomes lengthy.

Senator Henry Clay

In 1841 Senator Henry Clay proposed a bank bill that was opposed by Senator John C. Calhoun who began a lengthy, seemingly unending, rebuttal. Calhoun basically created modern filibuster. Clay threatened to change Senate rules in order to close debate on issue. Clay's colleague, Thomas Hart Benton, rebuked Clay and accused him of trying to stifle Senate's right to unlimited debate.

Through next few turbulent decades and into 1960's filibuster was used often by Southern Democrats to block civil rights legislation. The filibuster had been seen by minority party as a tool to combat potential "tyranny of majority," but frequent usage of filibuster by Southern Democrats became characterized as "tyranny of minority."

Senate Rule 22

President Woodrow Wilson suggested that some limits be placed on unlimited debate concept. In 1917 Senate adopted Senate Rule 22, now known as "cloture" rule. The new Rule 22 provided mechanism to close out debate on a legislative bill and bring bill up for a vote if cloture was approved by 67% of Senate. The 67% requirement remained in effect until 1975 when Rule 22 was amended to allow a 60% agreement to invoke cloture.

Cloture Rule 22 was tested in 1919 when Senate was asked to ratify Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. The treaty was debated and filibustered, but a 67% majority voted to end filibuster and to bring treaty to a vote.

Senator Huey Long

Senator Huey Long, fiery and colorful senator from Louisiana, made filibuster famous between 1932 and 1935 when he utilized it several times to stall legislation that he considered unfair to poor. Long frustrated his opponents and entertained Senate gallery by reading Shakespeare, reciting shrimp and oyster recipes and talking about "pot-likkers." An amendment to Senate Rule 19 later required that debate on legislation be germane to issue being debated.

On June 12, 1935, Senator Long engaged in his most famous filibuster. A bill was before Senate to eliminate provision for Senate to confirm senior National Recovery Act employees. Senator Long opposed bill because he didn't want his political adversaries in Louisiana to obtain lucrative N.R.A. jobs. Senator Long spoke for 15 hours and 30 minutes running well into evening and early morning hours with senators dozing at their desks. Long read and analyzed each section of Constitution, a document which he claimed had become "ancient and forgotten lore" under President Roosevelt's New Deal.

After reading of Constitution Senator Long offered to give advice to remaining senators on any subject of their choosing. No senator took Long up on his offer but gallery patrons began sending notes to floor for Senator Long to extemporize on. That kept Long going into early hours of morning. At 4 a.m. Long yielded floor in order to use restroom and his proposal was defeated.

James Stewart brought more fame to filibuster when he played role of Senator Jefferson Smith in 1939 film, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Stewart's character launched into a filibuster in response to an attempt to ridicule him.

Senator Wayne Morse

The number of countries in world at moment that are in some form of transition is higher than some ten years ago, and in some ways more efforts are made to resolve situations that threaten stability. And moves of all involved parties are not without major-league risks.

By finally addressing security issues by making a clean sweepthrough, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is slowly shifting into gear, starting clampdown on Palestinian insurgency that has long been called for. he has even told Hamas fighters publicly to give up their arms, This was a first for president who until now has been anything but clear on security issues. The Hamas leaders according to a report in London Asharq Al Awsat paper are reportedly planning to return to Gaza after Israelis have withdrawn.

The newspaper report detailed that leaders are likely to move their group’s political bureau to Gaza as soon as Israel transfers control over border crossings to Palestinian Authority. "When a militia turns into a political party, I believe issue of a need for arms becomes irrelevant," Abbas was quoted as saying. "There will be only one authority, one law and one legal [armed force]," according to recently elected Palestinian leader, who played down risks involved in operation, saying that this has happened many times before in history.