The most extended government shutdown in U.S. history revived a familiar argument: The Senate’s filibuster is to blame for congressional paralysis.

It’s a compelling narrative with a convenient villain, but it misses the point. The filibuster isn’t the source of the Senate’s dysfunction. It’s a key tool that prevents the chamber from dissolving into a tyranny of the majority, where national policy can be rewritten overnight.

The filibuster raises the cost of ending debate, but it does not give the minority party a formal veto. A determined majority can overcome it if it’s willing to put in the time and energy. When major legislation stalls, it’s likely because the majority party chooses not to use its existing powers — including requiring senators to hold the Senate floor in extended deb

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