"This issue has both substantive and political impediments," Mr. Spence said.

In addition, there are persistent political impediments such as a lackadaisical bureaucracy, widespread corruption and laggard approvals for venture-related issues to waste recycling and climate change.

Despite the flurry of activity, the proposals face significant political impediments and no one expects that they will be adopted quickly.

In it he argued against political and legal impediments to the free international flow of people, goods, capital and ideas.

On and on the political impedimenta.

When Democrats lost their Senate majority last fall, the last political impediment to the abortion ban's becoming law was removed.

Article 14 specified that the appointment of a bishop by the Pope was subject to the regime's confirmation that no political impediment existed.

Like others before him, Mr. Frist discovered that leading the Senate - and the accommodations requisite in the job - proved to be a political impediment.

Now that the court has said a majority vote of Parliament will suffice to send troops abroad, the political impediment remains.

To Yeltsin's dismay, this became a political impediment to his goal.