Filibuster: Legislative Procedure or Household Appliance

Amidst Senatorial debate and intense media coverage regarding the fate of the filibuster, many Americans say they simply “Do Not Know” when asked to “define” filibuster, but a majority can pick it out of a lineup.

May 2005.  Washington, D.C. – As the United States Senate historically debated the filibuster around the clock, it seems many Americans may have taken notice.  While a majority (61%) of Americans could not define or describe a “filibuster” in their own words when queried in an open-ended fashion, over two-thirds (68%) were able to correctly identify the meaning of filibuster as a legislative procedure when given a list of six options. 

This poll of 1,000 adults nationwide conducted by the polling company™, inc. suggests that Americans’ knowledge of the filibuster exceeds their ability to name at least one member (either by name or department) of the President’s cabinet , and to correctly name any of the nine Justices currently residing over the U.S. Supreme Court .

In the open-end question, one-in-five (20%) Americans suggested that the term “filibuster” had to do with some kind of obstruction or debate argument, with 7% volunteering that it is a “stalling/delay tactic,” and 6% affirmed that it “stops legislation/ blocks proposals.”   Another 16% correctly identified it as having something to do with talking and speeches, as 9% mentioned “talking continuously.”  One-quarter that knew that Congress was involved, including 14% who mentioned Congress non-specifically, and 11% who said that it was a congressional or legislative procedure.

In the close-end question, two-thirds (68%) of men and women were able to correctly pick from a list of six choices that the filibuster is a legislative procedure, while one-fifth (21%) volunteered an “I don’t know” or chose not to answer.  A nominal 4% identified it as a medical procedure, and a sports team and a household appliance were each mentioned by 2%.  A final 1% each stated that a filibuster was a breed of horse and a type of sandwich.

Key crosstabs from close-end question:

• Men were 5-points more likely than women to correctly choose a legislative procedure from the list of potential filibuster meanings (71%-66%).
• Interestingly, 25% of self-identified Democrats could not choose from the six answer categories, and admitted to not knowing the meaning of “filibuster.”  Republicans were among those most likely to say that it was a legislative procedure. 
• More than one-third of Blacks felt uncomfortable with the possible answers given, and admitted they “did not know” what this term meant. 

Groups most likely to correctly choose a legislative procedure from six potential meanings for filibuster in the close-end question:

• Men
• Suburban and Rural residents
• Married Americans
• College Degree or Higher
• Annual Incomes of $30,000 or higher
• Americans aged 40-64
• Whites
• Self ID Republicans
• Self ID Independents
• North Central US Residents
• Adults with no Children in the Home

Groups most likely to decline guessing at the list of six potential meanings for filibuster in the close-end question, rather volunteering that they “Do not know:” 

• High School Degree Only
• Women
• Urban Residents
• Americans aged 18-39 and aged 65 and older
• Blacks
• Annual Incomes of <$30,000
• South/ South Central US Residents
• Self ID Democrats
• Adults with Children in the Home