Gavelgate

Gavelgate was a political scandal in October, 2020, that revolved around the election of a President pro tempore of the Senate.

When Senator Order, at the time President pro tempore, resigned to accept a nomination to the Northern Supreme Court, Vice President Cabin began the process to nominate and elect his successor. As the left wing majority failed to second the nomination of Senator Drunk, however, Senator Bo and Valerie were able to get the former acclaimed to the position. The majority vacated the chair 24 hours later but the minority used a clause in the rules to decline to nominate anyone and therefore keep the nomination period open indefinitely. They attempted to proceed to legislative business despite having no President pro tempore but this was rejected by the Social Democratic Party, Global Labour Party and United Left, who insisted on the election going forward with their candidate in the chair. At one point, the gavel was seized from Senator Valerie and an impromptu election was held against all procedure, with Senator Drunk seeking to preside, but it was soon reversed.

The impasse, or filibuster, continued for a record 12 days until the Social Democratic Party broke away from the Global Labor Party and United Left to form a “Cooperative Caucus” with the Libertarian Party and get the Senate working again. It is believed to be the longest de facto filibuster in American political history.