cloture
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A parliamentary procedure for ending debate and forcing an immediate vote: In a legislative or deliberative assembly, a cloture is a formal process used to cut off discussion on a proposal and bring it to a decision.
Verb:
- To end debate by invoking such a rule: To cloture means to apply the parliamentary procedure to terminate discussion and compel a vote on the pending matter.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The senator filed a motion for cloture to end the filibuster.
- Achieving cloture requires a supermajority vote in many legislative bodies.
Verb:
- After days of debate, the majority leader moved to cloture the bill.
- They successfully clotured the discussion and proceeded to a final vote.
Advanced Usage
"Invoke cloture": To formally initiate the cloture procedure.
- The chair was asked to invoke cloture to break the legislative deadlock.
"Cloture vote": The specific vote taken to end debate.
- The cloture vote failed, meaning the debate could continue indefinitely.
Variants and Related Words
- Closure (noun): While often used synonymously in a parliamentary context, "closure" is the more common British English term for the same procedure. In general usage, "closure" can mean the act of closing or a feeling of resolution.
- Guillotine (noun): In some parliamentary systems (e.g., the UK), this is a similar procedure for allocating time and limiting debate.
Synonyms
- Noun: Closure, gag rule, guillotine (context-specific).
- Verb: Close debate, cut off debate, terminate discussion.
Related Phrases
"File for cloture": To submit the formal motion to end debate.
- The party leadership decided to file for cloture on the controversial amendment.
"Cloture motion": The formal proposal to end debate.
- The passage of the cloture motion was a significant procedural victory.
Notes on Meaning
- The term is most specifically associated with the procedure in the United States Senate to end a filibuster. Its use signifies a move from unlimited debate to a definitive decision-making vote.
- As a verb, it is a procedural term and is not used in general conversation outside of formal parliamentary or deliberative contexts.
Noun
- a rule for limiting or ending debate in a deliberative body
Verb
- terminate debate by calling for a vote
- debate was closured
- cloture the discussion