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Scandal - Mellie's Filibuster


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I don't know if anybody here watches Scandal, but there was a pretty good desperation scene in this Thursday's episode.

 

Mellie, the junior Senator from Virginia and soon-to-be ex-wife of the President, stands up to filibuster the proposed budget in order to save Planned Parenthood's federal funding. This means she had to stand and talk in front of the Senate for (in this case) 16 hours without eating or going to the bathroom.

 

It's great. Watch it. Watch it now. She's easily the hottest woman on the show, too. 

Mellie_filibuster.mp4

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Unfortunately, this entire subplot appears to be quite unrealistic, as the modern US Senate doesn't actually require anybody to actually stand up and talk to have a filibuster. They only do that to get attention, and sometimes in certain state senates. But apparently ABC doesn't mind a little inaccuracy in their political thriller.

since this is not an informational or biographical productions, rather than call it "inaccuracy", I would call it "creative liberty". Given, that this is an entertainment production written for lay people, I can venture to say that this show is intended to entertain more than to please the facts!

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I really don't understand what these weird events are supposed to do? Don't think we have them in England. They seem a bit daft to me.

They prevent a vote on a new/changed piece of legislation taking place by talking for so long that the time of the vote time passes. And yes, this has happened in the UK, fairly recently in fact

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/30/tory-mps-filibuster-blocks-bill-to-give-carers-free-hospital-parking

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So I could show true dedication to something stupid like a law saying all English children must wear a hat at all times otherwise there is a £5000 and because I can chat crap for a long period of time then that makes it happen? 

No. In the US Senate, there's no time limit for how long a senator can speak while debating a bill, unless 60% of the Senate votes to end discussion. So one Senator can effectively block a law from being passed, as long as 39 other senators are willing to implicitly support him/her. But to pass a law you still need at least 50% (more likely 60% due to filibusters and other procedural tricks) support.

 

Edit: I just realized you were talking about the British Parliament. I don't know the rules for that, but I would be surprised if you could pass something with less than 50% of the vote. 

Edited by Quincy (see edit history)
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No. In the US Senate, there's no time limit for how long a senator can speak while debating a bill, unless 60% of the Senate votes to end discussion. So one Senator can effectively block a law from being passed, as long as 39 other senators are willing to implicitly support him/her. But to pass a law you still need at least 50% (more likely 60% due to filibusters and other procedural tricks) support.

 

Edit: I just realized you were talking about the British Parliament. I don't know the rules for that, but I would be surprised if you could pass something with less than 50% of the vote. 

 

The 60% you refer to is called "cloture". I'm not sure if it can be voted on at any time or has to be voted on at the beginning.

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