Which tactic did a bloc of southern Democrats (the Solid South) rely on to block the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

• A. Public referendum
• B. Veto
• C. Filibuster
• D. Court challenge

Answer: (C)

The tactic at work here is the filibuster—the Senate’s method of delaying or blocking legislation by prolonged debate. A bloc of southern Democrats, known as the Solid South, used this power to stall the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In the Senate, unless a supermajority (sixty votes) agreed to end debate, a determined minority could keep talking and delay any final vote, effectively blocking the bill from becoming law. This is why the filibuster is the best answer: it captures how the Southern Democrats tried to hinder the act through procedural tactics, rather than by veto or courts. Public referendums aren’t how federal laws are blocked in Congress, and a court challenge would come after a bill passes, not during its consideration in Congress.