ELI5: What is a filibuster?

A filibuster is like a super long talking game in a group that can stop everyone from voting on something.

Imagine you and your friends are trying to decide what to play. Most of you want to play tag, but one friend, let's call him Alex, really wants to play hide-and-seek. Usually, you'd just vote, and whatever game gets the most votes wins. But Alex has a special trick: the filibuster.

Alex says he's going to keep talking about hide-and-seek forever until everyone gives up and agrees to play his game. He talks about:

• How fun hide-and-seek is.
• All the best hiding spots.
• How tag is too tiring.
• Even tells long stories about playing hide-and-seek when he was a baby!

That's like a filibuster! In a group like the Senate, which is part of how our country makes decisions, a senator can talk and talk (and talk!) to delay or block a vote on a new rule or law.

• They can talk about anything they want, as long as they keep talking.
• The goal is to make the others so tired of listening that they give up on the vote.
• It's a way for a small group to stop the majority from getting what they want.