Why did Mr. Smith go to Washington?
In the 1939 movie classic staring Jimmy Stewart, Mr. Smith was appointed to the Senate to fill a vacancy by a political machine that thought they could control him. What they didn’t realize was that Mr. Smith was committed to a cause and would come to understand the inner workings of the US government in order to make a difference. He used the filibuster effectively to get heard; for as long as his legs and voice held out he was able to filibuster on the floor of the Senate. According to the fictional Senator Smith “wild horses aren’t gonna drag me off this floor until those people have heard everything I’ve got to say, even if it takes all winter.” A Senator’s privilege The US Senate rules have traditionally allowed any Senator to speak as long as necessary. Filibusters are often entertaining to spectators, but invariably are frustrating to those who want to get something accomplished. Rule changes to limit debate have themselves been debated. In fact, there have been 12 changes since
