filibuster

A tactic used by a legislative representative to hinder and delay consideration of and action to be taken on a proposed bill through prolonged, irrelevant, and procrastinating speeches on the floor of the House, Senate, or other legislative body.

A filibuster is stopped by cloture, a legislative procedure that enables a vote to be taken on the proposed measure.

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filibuster noun attempt to obstruct legislation, blockage, cunctation, delay, delay in legislation, dilatory obstruction, hindrance, impediment, interference, obstruction to congressional action, prevention of congressional action, protraction, retardation, retardment, stalling, stoppage

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See also: delay, detain, forestall, hold up, procrastinate, prolong, protract, restrain, stall