[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 127 (Friday, August 3, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H9659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman may state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, could the Chair tell me how many 
Members rose to request the recorded vote and the total number of 
Members present in the House upon which the Chair made his decision?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. It's up to the Chair. And let me tell you 
this: The vote will show that the approval would be approved by the 
House, as it has been.
  That is not a parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, further parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. Speaker, does not the Constitution require that in order to get a 
yea and nay vote there has to be one-sixth of the Members present 
requesting a yea and nay vote?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. One-fifth.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Excuse me, one-fifth.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is correct.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Further parliamentary inquiry. Does not a recorded 
vote in the House require the second of 44 Members?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. One-fifth of a quorum is required.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Further parliamentary inquiry. Did one-fifth of 
the Members present stand? And, if so, how is it possible to challenge 
the call of the Speaker on the accuracy of the count of the Members 
present?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair's decision is not subject to 
question.


                             Point of Order

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I make the point of order that one-
fifth of the Members present did not support the demand for a recorded 
vote or a yea or nay vote.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman's point of order is not in 
order.

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