{
  "id": "RL32102",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
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  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
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      "id": 340863,
      "date": "2005-06-14",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:41:53.626029",
      "title": "Constitutionality of a Senate Filibuster of a Judicial Nomination",
      "summary": "The Senate cloture rule requires a super-majority vote to terminate a filibuster (i.e., extended debate). The Appointments Clause of the Constitution, which provides that the President is to \u201cnominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, ... appoint\u201d judges, does not impose a super-majority requirement for Senate confirmation. Critics of the Senate filibuster argue that a filibuster of a judicial nomination is unconstitutional in that it effectively requires a super-majority vote for confirmation, although the Appointments Clause does not require such a super-majority vote.\nIt has been argued that the Senate\u2019s constitutional power to determine the rules of its proceedings, as well as historical practice, provide the foundation for the filibuster. The question of the constitutionality of the filibuster of a judicial nomination turns on an assessment of whether the Senate\u2019s power to make rules governing its own proceedings is broad enough to apply the filibuster rule to nominations. Several factors have the effect of entrenching the filibuster (i.e., making it possible to filibuster a proposed amendment to the rules).\nSupporters and critics of the filibuster of judicial nominations disagree about the relative roles of the President and the Senate in regard to judicial appointments, about whether the Senate has a duty to dispose of the President\u2019s judicial nominations in a timely fashion, and about whether a simple majority of Senators has a constitutional right to proceed to a vote on a nomination. The constitutionality of the filibuster might be challenged in court, but it is uncertain whether such an action would be justiciable (i.e., appropriate for judicial resolution). Standing and the political question doctrine would be the primary justiciability issues raised by a court challenge to the filibuster rule.\n(Note: This report was originally written by Jay R. Shampansky, Legislative Attorney.)",
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs5765/",
      "id": "RL32102 2004-12-06",
      "date": "2004-12-06",
      "retrieved": "2005-06-10T23:57:23",
      "title": "Constitutionality of a Senate Filibuster of a Judicial Nomination",
      "summary": "This report provides an overview of the major issues which have been raised recently in the Senate regarding the Judicial Nominations, Filibusters, and the Constitution: When a Majority Is Denied Its Right to Consent and in the press concerning the constitutionality of a Senate filibuster (i.e., extended debate) of a judicial nomination.",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Congress",
          "name": "Congress"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Constitutional law",
          "name": "Constitutional law"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Senate rules and procedure",
          "name": "Senate rules and procedure"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Filibuster",
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        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Constitution",
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs4026/",
      "id": "RL32102 2003-10-03",
      "date": "2003-10-03",
      "retrieved": "2005-06-10T23:57:01",
      "title": "Constitutionality of a Senate Filibuster of a Judicial Nomination",
      "summary": "This report provides an overview of the major issues which have been raised recently in the Senate regarding the Judicial Nominations, Filibusters, and the Constitution: When a Majority Is Denied Its Right to Consent and in the press concerning the constitutionality of a Senate filibuster (i.e., extended debate) of a judicial nomination.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
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      "topics": [
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          "id": "Congress",
          "name": "Congress"
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        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Constitutional law",
          "name": "Constitutional law"
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        {
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          "id": "Senate rules and procedure",
          "name": "Senate rules and procedure"
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          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Filibuster",
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          "id": "Constitution",
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  "topics": [
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    "Constitutional Questions"
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}