Definition of cloture
: the closing or limitation of debate in a legislative body especially by calling for a vote
cloture
transitive verbExplore Merriam-Webster
Recent Examples of cloture from the Web
-
Current Senate rules mandate that 60 senators -- three-fifths of the 100-member Senate -- must agree in order to end debate and move forward to a vote on a measure or piece of legislation -- a process known as invoking cloture.
-
Republicans changed the rules to overcome the filibuster in that case, but a cloture vote is still required to end a filibuster of legislation.
-
The cloture vote is scheduled for 4:30 pm PST Monday, just hours before the State of the Union address.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cloture'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of cloture
French clôture, literally, closure, alteration of Medieval French closure
First Known Use: 1871
Other Government and Politics Terms
Law Dictionary
cloture
playLegal Definition of cloture
: the closing or limitation of debate in a legislative body especially by calling for a vote
cloture
transitive verbOrigin and Etymology of cloture
French clôture, literally, closure
Learn More about cloture
-
See words that rhyme with cloture Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cloture
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up cloture? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!