The Senate is dysfunctional by any measure. Partisan bickering and procedural brinksmanship pervade all stages of the legislative process. Meaningful floor debate is nonexistent, and senators routinely rely on unorthodox parliamentary procedures to block amendments and pass major bills without changes. Democratic and Republican majorities alike presently use these procedures preemptively in anticipation of opposition to limit the other party’s ability to slow or defeat their agenda. However, doing so limits the ability of all senators – especially those in the minority party – to adjudicate their constituents' concerns and offer amendments to legislation on the Senate floor. Consequently, Senate minorities justify using the rules to obstruct legislation by pointing to the majority's management of the institution and their resulting inability to debate and amend bills on the floor.
