What are filibusters?

When politicians will try to stop new laws from being passed by talking them to death. While this happens in most countries, filibusters are most famous for happening in the US Senate. The Senate does not have a speaker, unlike the House of Representatives, and a Senator can talk for as long as they want unless 60 Senators agree to block the filibuster. The record was set in 1957 with one Senator speaking continuously 24 hours and 18 minutes in an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Filibusters are not limited to nonstop talking, either. Recently, the left-wing opposition of the French Parliament submitted 140,000 amendments for the plan to privatise Gaz de France. Had the Parliament discussed and voted on the amendments one by one, it would have taken them 10 years. In the end the plan was shelved, but not as a result of the filibuster.