In parliamentary procedure, cloture (IPA: /ˈkloʊtʃɝ/, KLO-cher) (also called closure, and sometimes a guillotine) is a motion or process aimed at bringing debate to a quick end.
The procedure originated in the French National Assembly, from which the name (originally clôture, meaning "ending" or "conclusion") in French is taken. It was introduced into the United Kingdom Parliament by William Gladstone to overcome the obstruction of the Irish nationalist party and was made permanent in 1887. It was subsequently adopted by the United States Senate and other legislatures.
