The American Senate late last week effectively changed the senatorial rules on filibusters. I do believe under the new rules, it will be technically impossible to filibuster executive appointments, among others, in the Senate. The new rule expressly gives the way to the majority in a manner that literally practices the minority have their say, majority have their way ideology. Essentially, the effects would be seen on many fronts including the relationship between the Senate and the Executive.
With the new rules facilitating the majority to have their way, the executive will be more assertive in its approach to legislation and executive appointments requiring Senatorial sanction. This is because, a minority side of the Senate will have little to no effect in relation to barring executive appointments especially where the majority support the same appointments. In fact, this has already been seen in the recent Obama nominations for position of Court of Appeal judges in the District of Columbia. It remains to seen then how a minority side in the Senate would get the executive to listen to it.
However, it is too early for the current majority to celebrate. This is because the same could prove to be their own undoing. The American political structure and system are unpredictable, uncertain and ever changing. In that respect, no political faction, Democrats or Republicans, is ever assured of being in the majority or otherwise. For that reason, the changes in the filibuster would always stand to disadvantage the minority. It, therefore, depends on the party in the receiving end. In that respect, it is this paper’s contention that changes serve mere political conveniences and will not address the American interests as purported by its proponents.
Works Cited
Peters, Jeremy. "In Landmark Vote, Senate Limits Use of the Filibuster." New York Times 21 November 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/us/politics/reid-sets-in-motion-steps-to-limit-use-of-filibuster.html?_r=0>.
