The Senate’s impasse over the SAVE America Act shows that gridlock is caused less by the filibuster than by senators’ unwillingness to bear the costs of legislating. Republicans are not forcing Democrats to sustain their opposition, while Democrats are not required to obstruct—leaving bipartisan inaction to masquerade as minority veto.

The Senate has no single way of considering legislation. The Republican debate over the SAVE America Act reflects a larger choice among collegial, majoritarian, and structured-consent approaches to debate, amendments, and decision-making.

They don’t need the majority leader’s permission.