The purpose of a filibuster is to

• A. delay action in a legislative body
• B. ensure that all sides of an issue are heard
• C. protect majority rule
• D. shift legislative power to Senate committees

Answer: (A)

The main idea tested is that a filibuster is a tactic used to delay action by extending debate on a bill. In the Senate, a senator or group can speak at length or use procedural moves to prevent a vote from taking place, which means the legislation is stalled until enough votes are found to end the debate (cloture, typically requiring a supermajority). That direct effect—holding up progress toward a vote—is what makes delaying action the best description of the filibuster’s purpose.

It isn’t primarily about making sure every side is heard, though extended debate can bring more voices into the process; the core function is to obstruct or slow down proceedings. It also doesn’t aim to shift power to Senate committees elsewhere in the process, since that shift happens earlier in how a bill is considered, not as the tactic’s purpose. And while filibusters can be used to protect minority influence, they do so by delaying majority action rather than simply preserving majority rule.