Question

In recent years, the filibuster has ______. been used much less frequently than in the past become more likely to be used by bipartisan groups of opponents of civil rights legislation become a tactic regularly used by the minority party to block proposals of the majority party become a tactic regularly used by the majority party to block proposals of the minority party

Answer 1

Answer:

In recent years, the filibuster has become a tactic regularly used by the minority party to block proposals of the majority party.

Explanation:

A filibuster is a very long debate that aims to prevent a proposal being passed, simply by preventing it from voting.

In 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond (at that time Democratic senator) set a length record with a speech of 24 hours and 18 minutes. He wanted to stop the proposed civil rights legislation. The proposal was nevertheless adopted.  

The last time there was a proper filibuster in the Senate was in 1988, and was about election campaign funding. Democrat Majority Leader Robert Byrd demanded that everyone be present, which led, among other things, to Republican Bob Packwood being physically dragged into the Senate chamber by police officers. The filibuster lasted two days before the Democrats gave up.  In the 2000s, 80% of major bills were stopped by "filibustering".