Was the Ted Cruz effort actually a filibuster?

[Ralph Wiggum]

I asked a question at my trivia show last night....paraphrasing myself...."What U.S. Senator conducted a filibuster that lasting approximately 21 hours that ended this morning?"

Multiple teams had the right answer, but one of the very best teams claimed it wasn't actually a filibuster.  Every "Nadin" or news report showed that it was a filibuster.

So, was it a filibuster or not? 

[thundley4]

Technically it wasn't because procedural rules were followed and he had to yield the floor at noon.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Technically it wasn't because procedural rules were followed and he had to yield the floor at noon.

Cool thanks.  Like I said, almost every news story called it a filibuster.  Everyone understood what I meant.

[Eupher]

Technically it wasn't because procedural rules were followed and he had to yield the floor at noon.

I've always been curious about these procedural rules. Who came up with that stuff?

Cruz wasn't permitted to leave the chamber (doing so would've yielded the floor) and he wasn't permitted to sit down. He did lean against a couple of desks, though, and Rubio spoke for an hour. Rand also asked lengthy questions, which really weren't questions.

Still the idea of talking for 20+ hours makes my head hurt.

[Dori]

I've always been curious about these procedural rules. Who came up with that stuff?

I think some of it is in the constitution and some they make and vote on their own rules.

It is complicated

http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Rules_and_Procedure_vrd.htm

[Eupher]

I think some of it is in the constitution and some they make and vote on their own rules.

It is complicated

http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Rules_and_Procedure_vrd.htm

The only references I've seen in the Constitution pertaining to Congress and their procedures involve their enumerated powers and those listed in Article I, Section 5:

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.

The devil lies in the details. What are those "rules." Who made them up, and when?

There really isn't much in the Constitution that pertains to Congress' procedures and parliamentary processes. Ergo my question.

It's a rhetorical question and it's one I can answer myself if I have the time to do some research on it. But I don't.

[JohnnyReb]

Congressional Rules: "If republicans want to go along for the ride, they will have to ride in the back of the bus." "I(we) won, get over it"

[GOP Congress]

Other conservative senators need to do this more often. In fact, if one can last 21 hours like Ted Cruz, it's BETTER than a filibuster, because there IS a deadline, which is about as long as a senator's physical ability lasts, and he will not have to endure the "quitting" label because he will be shut down procedurally.

We should be doing this weekly, if not bi-weekly. This is PRECISELY what a politician needs to do to get past the filter of the media, without having to pay for his own advertising.