List of Illustrations . . vii 
Preface . . ix 

I FOUNDATIONS . . 1
1 Introduction . . 3 
2 A Theory of Obstruction . . 15 

II THE HISTORIC CONGRESS, 1789-1901 . . 37 
3 The Escalation of Filibustering, 1789-1901 . . 39 
4 Filibusters in the Historic Congress . . 57
5 Explaining Obstruction in the Historic Congress . . 78 

III THE MODERN SENATE, 1901-PRESENT . . 97 
6 The Growth of Filibustering in the Senate . . 99 
7 Explaining the Rise of Filibustering in the Senate . . 133 
8 From Attrition to Cloture: Institutionalizing the Filibuster . . 147 

Afterword: The Future of the Senate . . 189 
Notes . . 201 
References . . 215 
Index . . 227