Cloture

We’ve previously discussed filibusters in this series and this naturally leads to the question of how to end a filibuster in the US Senate.
To refresh then, there is a tradition of open and unlimited debate in the Senate and Senators have the right of extended debate, which allows any Senator to speak on any matter for as long as he or she wishes. This right of extended debate can lead to filibusters, which is any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a matter by debating it at length, by offering procedural motions, or by any other obstructive or delaying actions.
To deal with filibusters, the Senate adopted a rule, in 1917, that allows the Senate to end a debate with a procedural vote that required a two-thirds super majority vote — a tactic known as cloture. Because of the difficulty in garnering a two-thirds majority, in 1975, the Senate reduced the number of votes required to invoke cloture to three-fifths of the Senate. Today this amounts to 60 senators of the current 100 senators. Cloture is the only procedure by which the Senate can vote to limit debate on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thus overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule, the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.