| This Unit was all about the legislative branch, and one of the techniques frequently employed on the senate floor is something known as the "filibuster". Basically, a filibuster is when a senator takes up time on the floor to prevent further senate action on an action or a bill. So this article published in Time Magazine relates to the unit because it talks about Senator Ted Cruz reading Green Eggs and Ham on the senate floor. This is usually mistakenly regarded as a filibuster by High School Government Teachers, but it is in fact not a filibuster. However, its a common mistake and these teachers shouldn't be thought of any less for their mistake. Ted Cruz's reading of Green Eggs and Ham on the senate floor was technically not a filibuster because by definition a filibuster's main, and only, purpose is to prevent further senate action on a bill. And before Senator Cruz took the floor, the senate had already scheduled a vote for the following Wednesday without any possibility for delay. So Senator Cruz's reading had no possibility to delay any action, and therefore cannot be a filibuster by definition. http://swampland.time.com/2013/09/25/ted-cruz-reads-green-eggs-and-ham-on-senate-floor-and-thats-not-the-weird-part/ |