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A filibuster is a parliamentary procedure where debate over a proposed piece of legislation is extended, allowing one or more members to delay or entirely prevent a vote on the proposal. It is sometimes referred to as talking out a bill or talking a bill to death〔"Talking it out" usage example: 〕 and characterized as a form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body. The English term "filibuster" is derived from the Spanish ''filibustero'', itself deriving originally from the Dutch ''vrijbuiter'', "privateer, pirate, robber" (also the root of English "freebooter"〔Oxford English Dictionary, ("freebooter" ). Retrieved 2012-10-26.〕). The Spanish form entered the English language in the 1850s, as applied to military adventurers from the United States then operating in Central America and the Spanish West Indies such as William Walker.〔Oxford English Dictionary, ("filibuster" ). Retrieved 2012-10-26.〕〔"Walker, William", in ''Webster's Biographical Dictionary'' (1960), Springfield: Merriam-Webster〕 The term in its legislative sense was first used by Rep. Albert G. Brown, (D-MS) in 1853, referring to Abraham Watkins Venable's speech against "filibustering" intervention in Cuba.〔William Safire, ''Safire's New Political Dictionary'' (2008) pp 244〕 ==Ancient Rome== One of the first known practitioners of the filibuster was the Roman senator Cato the Younger. In debates over legislation he especially opposed, Cato would often obstruct the measure by speaking continuously until nightfall. As the Roman Senate had a rule requiring all business to conclude by dusk, Cato's purposefully long-winded speeches were an effective device to forestall a vote. Cato attempted to use the filibuster at least twice to frustrate the political objectives of Julius Caesar.〔 The first incident occurred during the summer of 60 BC, when Caesar was returning home from his propraetorship in Hispania Ulterior. Caesar, by virtue of his military victories over the raiders and bandits in Hispania, had been awarded a triumph by the Senate. Having recently turned forty, Caesar had also become eligible to stand for consul. This posed a dilemma. Roman generals honored with a triumph were not allowed to enter the city prior to the ceremony, but candidates for the consulship were required, by law, to appear in person at the Forum.〔 The date of the election, which had already been set, made it impossible for Caesar to stand unless he crossed the ''pomerium'' and gave up the right to his triumph. Caesar petitioned the Senate to stand ''in absentia,'' but Cato employed a filibuster to block the proposal. Faced with a choice between a triumph and the consulship, Caesar chose the consulship and entered the city. Cato made use of the filibuster again in 59 BC in response to a land reform bill sponsored by Caesar, who was then consul.〔 When it was Cato's time to speak during the debate, he began one of his characteristically long-winded speeches. Caesar, who needed to pass the bill before his co-consul, Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus, took possession of the ''fasces'' at the end of the month, immediately recognized Cato's intent and ordered the lictors to jail him for the rest of the day. The move was unpopular with many senators and Caesar, realizing his mistake, soon ordered Cato's release. The day was wasted without the Senate ever getting to vote on a motion supporting the bill, but Caesar eventually circumvented Cato's opposition by taking the measure to the Tribal Assembly, where it passed. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Filibuster」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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