Robert Byrd: “Let us clearly understand one thing. The Constitution's framers never intended for the Senate to function like the House…”

“Let us clearly understand one thing. The Constitution's framers never intended for the Senate to function like the House of Representatives. The Senate was intended to take the long view and to be able to resist, if need be, the passions of the often intemperate House. Few, if any, upper chambers in the history of the western world have possessed the Senate's absolute right to unlimited debate and to amend or block legislation passed by a lower house. I have said that, as long as the Senate retains the power to amend and the power of unlimited debate, the liberties of the people will remain secure.”