Where might a member of Congress hold the floor indefinitely and thereby delay a vote on a bill which he or she objects (aka fillibuster)?
The House
The Senate
Both the House and Senate
Parliament
I was thinking both house and senate?
Yes.
A member of Congress can hold the floor indefinitely and thereby delay a vote on a bill through a procedure known as a filibuster. Filibusters can only occur in the United States Congress, specifically in the Senate. Therefore, the correct answer is "The Senate."
To understand why filibusters are not allowed in the House of Representatives or in other countries' legislatures such as Parliament, it is important to note the differences in rules and procedures between the two chambers of the U.S. Congress.
In the House of Representatives, there are rules set in place that limit the amount of time a member can speak on a given bill. This prevents any one member from holding the floor indefinitely and delaying the legislative process.
On the other hand, the Senate operates under different rules, allowing its members more freedom to speak on a bill for an extended period of time. This allows for the possibility of filibusters. By engaging in a filibuster, a senator can speak at length on the floor to delay a vote on a bill they object to. They can continue speaking until a cloture vote is successfully passed or until they voluntarily yield the floor.
It's worth noting that filibusters can be overcome through a procedure called "cloture." If a three-fifths majority (currently 60 out of 100 senators) votes in favor of cloture, the filibuster can be ended, and a vote on the bill can proceed.
In summary, while members of Congress can filibuster in the Senate, it is not allowed in the House of Representatives or in other countries' legislatures such as Parliament.