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QUORUM Paragraph 1 of Rule VI provides that a quorum shall consist of a majority of the Senators duly chosen and sworn, and under the rules and practices of the Senate, any Senator may suggest the absence of a quorum before the Senate is permitted to act on any business. However, under a unanimous consent agreement placing a limitation on the debate of a measure and assigning control of that time, while that matter is pending no Senator may suggest the absence of a quorum unless that Senator con­ trols a sufficient amount of time (which has been held by the precedents to be 10 minutes). But, it has been equally well estab­ lished by the precedents that any Senator has a right to call for a quorum before a vote begins even if that Senator controlled no time, or even if there was an order that a vote occur at a time certain. However, certain unanimous consent agreements have been interpreted to preclude quorum calls. The Presiding Officer has no authority to count to see if a quorum is present when a Senator suggests the absence of a quorum unless the Senate is operating under cloture; the rules provide that once a Senator makes a point of no quorum, "the Presiding Officer shall forthwith direct the Secretary to call the roll" and the Presiding Officer "shall announce the result." U nti! a point of no quorum has been raised, the Senate oper­ ates on the assumption that a quorum is present, and even if only a few Senators are present, a measure may be passed or a nomi­ nation agreed to. Any Senator in attendance can suggest the absence of a quorum, which would stay any action by the Senate until a quorum is ascertained. Voice votes may be taken on the passage of a bill and if no question of a quorum is raised, that action is final, even though a majority of the Senators did not participate; the Senate operates on the absolute assumption that a quorum is always present until a point of no quorum is made. Once a point of no quorum has been raised, and the absence of a quorum established by the Chair announcing that a quorum is not present, the quorum call may not be called off, even by unanimous consent, and no business or debate is in order, until a quorum of the Senators has responded to the call. The Senate may in the absence of a quorum recess (if there is an order in place permitting such a recess), adjourn, or adopt motions to request or compel the attendance of absent Senators; it may not, however, proceed to take any further legislative action until a quorum is established. If the Senate is finally forced to adjourn without a quorum being present, the first thing when the Senate reconvenes is to call a quorum to ascertain the presence of a quorum. 1038 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 13:12 Feb 27, 2002 Jkt 077687 PO 00000 Frm 01062 Fmt 6602 Sfmt 6602 E:\RENEE\77687.TXT pfrm01 PsN: 77687 QUORUM 1039 Rule VI [Definition of a Quorum and Quorum Call Procedure] 1. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Senators duly chosen and sworn. 2. No Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate without leave. 3. If, at any time during the daily sessions of the Senate, a question shall be raised by any Senator as to the presence of a quorum, the Presiding Officer shall forthwith direct the Secretary to call the roll and shall announce the result, and these proceedings shall be without debate. 4. Whenever upon such rollcall it shall he ascertained that a quorum is not present, a majority of the Senators present may direct the Sergeant at Arms to request, and, when necessary, to compel the attendance of the absent Senators, which order shall be determined without debate; and pending its execution, and until a quorum shall be present, no debate nor motion, except to adjourn, or to recess pursuant to a previous order entered by unanimous consent, shall be in order. Rule XII, Paragraph 4 [Quorum Call Before Consent To Fix Time for Vote on Passage of Bills and Joint Resolutions] No request by a Senator for unanimous consent for the taking of a final vote on a specified date upon the passage of a bill or joint resolu­ tion shall be submitted to the Senate for agreement thereto until after a quorum call ordered for the purpose by the Presiding Officer, it shall be disclosed that a quorum of the Senate is present; and when a unanimous consent is thus given the same shall operate as the order of the Senate, but any unanimous consent may be revoked by another unanimous consent granted in the manner prescribed above upon one day's notice. Form: Majority Leader: Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. or Mr. President, I make the point of order that a quorum is not present. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 13:12 Feb 27, 2002 Jkt 077687 PO 00000 Frm 01063 Fmt 6602 Sfmt 6602 E:\RENEE\77687.TXT pfrm01 PsN: 77687 1040 SENATE PROCEDURE Absence of Quorum Announced, Business Out of Order: See "Quorum Call, Debate Out of Order Until Quorum Present," p. 767; "Business or Debate Out of Order in the Absence of a Quorum," pp. 1046-1049. Absence of a Quorum Disclosed by: See "Suggestion of the Absence of a Quorum When in Order," pp. 1062-1065. Absentees Called: A quorum being absent, and the Chair having an­ nounced the absence of a quorum, the Secretary is direct­ ed to call the names of the absentees. For details see "At­ tendance of Senators," "Call of Absentees, a Quorum Being Absent," p. 216. Adding of Names to Quorum Call After Call Is Completed: A Senator under a strict interpretation of the rule must respond to a call in order to be recorded, if the question is raised.! The Vice President, in 1913, instructed the Secretary not to record any Senator's name after such announce­ ment unless he obtained permission of the Senate. 2 The Vice President has made statements at different times against adding names after a quorum call has ended,3 as well as on adding names of Senators when they enter the Chamber after their names are called and before announcement of results. 4 Adjourn: See "Quorum Call Before Voting On," p. 7. Adjournment in the Absence of a Quorum: &e also "Precedence of," p. 16; "Precedence of Motions," pp. 4-5; "Quorum, Absence of," pp. 5-7. 1 See Mar. 19,1947,80-1, Record, p. 2264. 2 Dec. 10, 1913,63-2, Record, pp. 590-92. 3 Apr. 5, 1949, 81-1, Record, pp. 3832-35; Apr. 6, 1949, 81-1, Record, pp. 3956-57. 4 May 16, 1949, 81-1, Record, p. 6203. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 13:12 Feb 27, 2002 Jkt 077687 PO 00000 Frm 01064 Fmt 6602 Sfmt 6602 E:\RENEE\77687.TXT pfrm01 PsN: 77687 QUORUM 1041 When the Senate convenes following an adjournment or recess (under a previous order) taken in the absence of a quorum, the Presiding Officer will direct a quorum to be called as soon as the Senate convenes,5 without any motion from the floor. 6 Adjournment, May Not Interrupt Quorum Call Until Established That Quorum Was Not Present: See also "When Motion Not in Order," p. 7. After the Chair announces that a quorum is in progress, a motion to adjourn is not in order, until the quorum is called off or concluded, or the Chair announces that a quorum is not present. 7 Announced by Chair: When a quorum call discloses the presence of a quorum, the Chair will announce that a quorum is present, and on June 13, 1967 when a point of order was made following such announcement that there was no quorum present, the Presiding Officer assured the Senator that a quorum had responded to the rollcall from which there is no appeal.s Arrest, Orders for During Absence of Quorum: See "Compel or Request Attendance," pp. 217-222. Assumption That Quorum Is Present, Unless Question Raised: The Senate operates on the presumption that a quorum is present at all times,9 under all circumstances, unless 5 July 21,1975,94-1, Record, p. 23735; Apr. 30, 1971, 92-1, Record, pp.12855-61; May 3, 1971, 92-1, Record, p. 13131; July 16, 1942, 77-2, Record, p. 6225; Apr. 24 and 25, 1962, 87-2, Record, pp. 7139, 7141-43; July 28,1962,87-2, Record, pp. 14952-53; Aug. 14, 1962, 87-2, Record, p. 16416; Sept. 6, 1966, 89-2, Record, p. 21651; Sept.H, 1970, 91-2,Record, p. 31502; Aug. 21, 1970, 91-2, Record, p. 29764. For several successive instances of daily a~journments because of a lack of a quorum, see Sept. 17, 1964,88-2, Record, p. 22333; Sept. 18, 1964, 88-2, Record, p. 22354; Sept. 19, 1964, 88-2, Record, p. 22354; Sept. 21, 1964,88-2, Record, pp. 22354-55; Aug. 21, 1970, 91-2, Record, p. 29764; Sept. 11, 1970, 91-2, Record, p. 31502; June 30, 1971, 92-1, Record, p. 22878. 6 Sept. 20 and 23, 1968, Record, pp. 27793, 27815; Aug. 21, 1970, 91-2, Record, p. 29764; Sept. 11,1970,91-2, Record, p. 31502. 7 Sept. 30,1971,92-1, Record, pp. 34260, 34265. 8 June 13, 1967,90-1, Record, p. 15691. 9 Sept. 18, 1914, 63-2, Record, p.
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