[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 5, Chapters 18 - 20]
[Chapter 20. Calls of the House; Quorums]
[Index to Precedents]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 3487-3494]
 
                               CHAPTER 20
 
                      Calls of the House; Quorums


[[Page 3487]]



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    Commentary and editing by Thomas J. Nicola, J.D.
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A. Calls of the House

    Sec. 1. In General; Scope
    Sec. 2. Calls Ordered on Motions; Automatic Calls
    Sec. 3. The Chair's Count; Names Included on Calls
    Sec. 4. Calls by Electronic Device; Time Allowed for Attendance
    Sec. 5. Securing Attendance; Arrests
    Sec. 6. Closing or Locking the Doors
    Sec. 7. The Call in the Committee of the Whole
    Sec. 8. Motions During the Call--To Adjourn
    Sec. 9. --To Dispense With Further Proceedings Under the Call

B. Effect of Presence or Absence of a Quorum

   Sec. 10. Introductory
   Sec. 11. As Related to the Journal
   Sec. 12. As Related to Prayer by the Chaplain and Messages

C. Objections to Absence of a Quorum; Points of No Quorum

   Sec. 13. In General; Timeliness and Diligence
   Sec. 14. Dilatoriness; Effect of Prior Count
   Sec. 15. Proceedings Pending Call of House in Absence of Quorum
   Sec. 16. In the Committee of the Whole

[[Page 3488]]

   Sec. 17. Absence of Quorum in Standing Committee as Bar to Floor 
            Consideration or Other Subsequent Proceedings
   Sec. 18. Withdrawal or Withholding of Objections or Points of No 
            Quorum




                          INDEX TO PRECEDENTS
                                     

Absence of quorum in standing committee as bar to floor consideration, 
    see Standing committee, absence of quorum in, as bar to floor 
    consideration
Absence or presence of quorum, effect of
    in general, Sec. Sec. 10.1-10.3
    adjourning or instructing Sergeant at Arms after quorum fails to 
        appear, Sec. Sec. 2.19, 10.11, 10.12
    arresting absent Members after failure of quorum to appear, 
        Sec. 10.13
    arrests, securing attendance after quorum fails to appear, 
        Sec. Sec. 5.4-5.9
    business after quorum fails to appear, conducting, Sec. Sec. 10.4-
        10.7
    Calendar Wednesday, Sec. 10.20
    proceedings after quorum fails to appear, adjourning or continuing, 
        Sec. 10.10
    proceedings after quorum fails to appear on vote to suspend rules, 
        Sec. Sec. 10.14, 10.15
    proceedings during special order, Sec. 10.16
    proceedings permitted during absence of quorum, Sec. Sec. 1.11-1.13
    question of privilege pending vote on point of no quorum, Sec. 10.8
    Senate precedents, Sec. Sec. 10.21-10.23
    unfinished business, Sec. Sec. 10.17-10.19
    vacating proceedings, definition of, Sec. 10.9
Absent Members, arresting, Sec. 10.13
Adjourn, motion to, see also Recess, motion to
    automatic vote by yeas and nays, Sec. Sec. 8.11, 8.12
    calls of House after vote on adjournment, Sec. Sec. 8.3-8.5, 8.27
    continuing call after quorum fails to appear on, Sec. 8.16
    pending business, effect of adjournment on, Sec. 8.2
    point of no quorum after vote, consequence of, Sec. 8.13
    point of no quorum, pending, Sec. 8.17
    precedence of, over motion for call of House, Sec. Sec. 8.14, 8.15
    privilege, effect on questions of, Sec. 8.6
    quorum requirement, Sec. Sec. 8.7-8.10
    second, need for, Sec. 8.1
    Senate precedent, Sec. 8.29
    when in order, Sec. Sec. 8.18-8.24
Adjourn, refusal to
    procedure available following, Sec. Sec. 5.14, 8.3-8.6, 8.27
Adjourning or continuing proceedings after quorum fails to appear, 
    Sec. 10.10
Adjourning or instructing Sergeant at Arms after quorum fails to 
    appear, Sec. Sec. 10.11, 10.12
Approval and reading of Journal, effect of presence or absence of 
    quorum on, Sec. Sec. 11.1, 11.3-11.5
Arresting absent Members after failure of quorum to appear, Sec. 10.13
Arrests, see Attendance, securing; arrests

[[Page 3489]]

Attendance, securing; arrests
    in general, Sec. Sec. 5.1-5.3
    motions and warrants for arrest, Sec. Sec. 5.10-5.12
    procedure available following refusal to adjourn, Sec. 5.14
    procedure available following refusal to dispense with further 
        business, Sec. 5.13
    procedure available when quorum fails to appear, Sec. Sec. 5.4-5.9
    Senate precedents, Sec. Sec. 5.15-5.21
Automatic call; call ordered on motion
    adjourn, motion to, see Adjourn, motion to
    call of the House, motion for, Sec. Sec. 2.8-2.10
    call of the House, proceedings following, Sec. Sec. 2.16, 2.17
    Chair, prerogatives of, Sec. Sec. 2.11, 2.14
    Committee of the Whole, automatic yeas and nays in, Sec. 2.7
    convening, ascertaining quorum upon, Sec. 2.3
    interruption by motion to adjourn, Sec. 2.15
    Members' obligation to respond, Sec. 2.2
    postponement of roll calls, Sec. 2.4
    presumption of presence of quorum, Sec. 2.1
    proceedings following call of House, Sec. Sec. 2.16, 2.17
    Senate precedents, Sec. Sec. 2.25-2.28
    signal lights and bells, Sec. Sec. 2.20, 2.21
    Speaker's authority to move call, Sec. 2.6
    vacating passage of bill, proceedings after, Sec. 2.24
    vacating proceedings, Sec. Sec. 2.22, 2.23
    well of House cleared, Sec. 2.5
Bells and lights, legislative signal, Sec. Sec. 2.20, 2.21, 7.6
Bryan, United States v
    absence of quorum in standing committee as affecting charge of 
        obstructing committee, Sec. 17
Business, conducting, after quorum fails to appear, Sec. Sec. 10.4-10.7
Business, intervening, points of no quorum after, Sec. Sec. 14.7, 14.8
Business, unfinished
    adjournment, effect of on pending business, Sec. 8.2
    effect of presence or absence of quorum, Sec. Sec. 10.17-10.19
Calendar Wednesday
    effect of absence of quorum, Sec. 10.20
Call in Committee of the Whole, see Committee of the Whole, call in
Call of the House
    absence of quorum, proceedings permitted in, Sec. Sec. 1.11-1.13
    adjourn, interruptions by motions to, Sec. 2.15
    adjourn, motion to, see Adjourn, motion to
    Chair, prerogatives of the, Sec. Sec. 2.11-2.14
    correction of count, Sec. Sec. 3.16, 3.17
    dispense with further proceedings, motion to, see Dispense with 
        further proceedings, motion to
    electronic device, Sec. Sec. 4.1-4.4
    motion for, Sec. Sec. 2.8-2.12
    proceedings after quorum fails to appear, Sec. Sec. 10.4-10.7
    proceedings following, Sec. Sec. 2.16, 2.17
    proceedings requiring quorum, Sec. Sec. 1.4-1.10
    recess, motion to, see Recess, motion to
    recounts, Sec. 3.18
    Senate precedents, Sec. Sec. 2.25-2.28
    vacating passage of bill, proceedings after, Sec. 2.24
    vacating proceedings, Sec. Sec. 2.22, 2.23
Calls ordered on motions; automatic calls, see Automatic call; call 
    ordered on motion
Chair, prerogatives of
    calls of the House, Sec. Sec. 2.11-2.14

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Christoffel v United States
    absence of quorum in standing committee as affecting perjury charge 
        against witness, Sec. 17
Committee of the Whole, call in
    in general, Sec. Sec. 7.1-7.6
    automatic yeas and nays in, Sec. 2.7
    counting Members, Sec. Sec. 7.7-7.10
    motion to rise, Sec. Sec. 7.11-7.13
    point of no quorum as related to demand for tellers, 
        Sec. Sec. 7.19, 7.20
    proceedings when Committee rises, Sec. Sec. 7.15-7.18
    refusal to rise, consequences of, Sec. 7.14
Committee of the Whole, point of no quorum or objection to absence of 
    quorum in
    automatic roll call not in order, Sec. Sec. 16.2-16.4
    proceedings following, Sec. Sec. 16.8-16.12
    rise, pending motion to, Sec. Sec. 16.6, 16.7
    tellers, pending demand for, Sec. 16.5
    when in order, Sec. 16.1
Committee (standing), absence of quorum in, as bar to floor 
    consideration, see Standing committee, absence of quorum in, as bar 
    to floor consideration
Consideration, floor, absence of quorum in standing committee as bar to
    in general, Sec. Sec. 17.1-17.4
    Christoffel v United States, Sec. 17
    Senate precedent, Sec. 17.25
    United States v Bryan, Sec. 17
Continuing proceedings or adjourning after quorum fails to appear, 
    Sec. 10.10
Correction of quorum calls, Sec. Sec. 3.16, 3.17
Counting the Committee of the Whole
    in general, Sec. Sec. 7.7-7.10
Counting the House
    calls, correction of, Sec. Sec. 3.16, 3.17
    recounts, Sec. 3.18
    roll, inclusion on the, Sec. Sec. 3.1-3.3
    Senate precedent, Sec. 3.19
    teller vote, quorum established on, Sec. 3.14
    verification of Chair's count by tellers, Sec. 3.15
    who is counted, Sec. Sec. 3.4-3.9 who is not counted, 
        Sec. Sec. 3.10-3.13
Debate
    point of no quorum, timeliness of, during, Sec. Sec. 13.6-13.9
Demand for tellers
    point of no quorum as related to, in Committee of the Whole, 
        Sec. Sec. 7.19, 7.20
Dilatory
    in general, Sec. 14.1
    points of no quorum after intervening business, Sec. Sec. 14.7, 
        14.8
    points of no quorum not entertained, Sec. Sec. 14.9-14.17
    points of no quorum as not, Sec. Sec. 14.214.6
Dispense with further proceedings, motion or request to
    adjourn, precedence of motion to, Sec. 9.4
    effect of adoption or rejection of motion, Sec. Sec. 9.2, 9.3
    floor, Member retaining after call, Sec. 9.5
    objections to, Sec. Sec. 9.17-9.19
    pending business, effect on, Sec. 9.7
    procedures available following refusal, Sec. 5.13
    purpose of, Sec. 9.10
    quorum requirement, Sec. Sec. 9.11-9.13
    Senate message received while pending, Sec. 9.6
    tabling of motion, Sec. 9.1
    terminating call, adoption as, Sec. Sec. 9.89.10

[[Page 3491]]

    yea and nay votes on, Sec. Sec. 9.14-9.16
Doors, closing or locking
    in general, Sec. Sec. 6.1-6.5
    effects of, Sec. Sec. 6.6-6.9
Doors, reopening, Sec. Sec. 6.10, 6.11
Effect of presence or absence of quorum, see Absence or presence of 
    quorum, effect of
Electronic device
    calls by, generally, Sec. Sec. 4.1-4.4
Failure of quorum to appear
    proceedings after, Sec. Sec. 2.16, 2.17, 2.19, 10.4-10.7
Floor consideration, absence of quorum in standing committee as bar to, 
    see Consideration, floor, absence of quorum in standing committee 
    as bar to
House as in Committee of the Whole, point of no quorum in, Sec. 13.21
House, counting, see Counting the House
Inclusion on the roll
    counting the House, Sec. Sec. 3.1-3.3
Intervening business, points of no quorum after, Sec. Sec. 14.7, 14.8
Journal
    effect of presence or absence of quorum; in general, 
        Sec. Sec. 11.1, 11.2
    point of order, timeliness of, during reading of, Sec. Sec. 13.14, 
        13.15
    reading and approval of, Sec. Sec. 11.1, 11.3-11.6
    receipt of messages during reading of Sec. Sec. 11.7, 11.8
    refusal of point of no quorum, Sec. 11.9
Lights and bells as legislative signal, Sec. Sec. 2.20, 2.21, 7.6
Locking or closing doors
in general, Sec. 6.1-6.5
    effects of, Sec. 6.6-6.9
Majority as quorum, Sec. Sec. 1.1, 1.2
Members, arresting absent, Sec. 10.13
Messages, receipt of
    effect of presence or absence of quorum, Sec. Sec. 12.3-12.6
    Journal, as related to, Sec. Sec. 11.7, 11.8
Motion to adjourn, see Adjourn, motion to
Motion to call the House, Sec. Sec. 2.8-2.10
Motion to dispense with further proceedings, see Dispense with further 
    proceedings, motion to
Motion to recess
    in general, Sec. 8.25
    Senate precedent, Sec. 8.28
Motion to rise in Committee of the Whole, Sec. Sec. 7.11-7.13
Motions
    adjournment, see Adjourn, motion to call of the House, 
        Sec. Sec. 2.8-2.10
    dispensing with further proceedings, see Dispense with further 
        proceedings, motion to
    recess, Sec. 8.25
Motions, calls ordered on; automatic calls, see Automatic call; call 
    ordered on motion
Motions and warrants for arrest, Sec. Sec. 5.10-5.12
Objection to absence of quorum in standing committee as bar to floor 
    consideration, see Standing committee, absence of quorum in, as bar 
    to floor consideration
Objection to dispensing with further proceedings under the call, 
    Sec. Sec. 9.17-9.19
Objection to absence of quorum--timeliness and diligence
    in general, Sec. Sec. 13.1-13.5
    announcement of voice vote, after, Sec. 13.16
    announcement of vote result, after, Sec. Sec. 13.23, 13.24

[[Page 3492]]

    completing action, after, Sec. Sec. 13.25, 13.26
    division vote, after, Sec. 13.20
    division vote and rejection of yeas and nays, after, Sec. 13.19
    parliamentary inquiry, preceded by, Sec. 13.18
Parliamentary inquiries following point of no quorum, Sec. Sec. 15.4-
    15.7
Parliamentary inquiry
    objection to absence of quorum preceded by, Sec. 13.18
    point of no quorum, after, Sec. Sec. 15.4-15.7
Point of no quorum
    automatic roll call as not precipitated by, Sec. 13.4
    Committee of the Whole, during receipt of report from, Sec. 13.29
    debatable, not, Sec. Sec. 15.1, 15.2
    debate, during, Sec. Sec. 13.6-13.9
    dilatoriness, in general, Sec. 14.1
    dilatory, Sec. Sec. 14.9-14.17
    dilatory, not, Sec. Sec. 14.2-14.6
    intervening business, after, Sec. Sec. 14.7, 14.8
    Journal, during reading of, Sec. Sec. 13.14, 13.15
    parliamentary inquiries after, Sec. Sec. 15.4-15.7
    point of order after, Sec. 15.3
    postponing roll calls, effect of agreement, Sec. 13.13
    prayer, before, Sec. 13.22
    resolution, during reading of, Sec. Sec. 13.11, 13.12
    resolution, during reading of, after establishment of quorum, 
        Sec. 13.28
    special order, during, Sec. 13.10
    tellers, as related to demand for, Sec. Sec. 7.19, 7.20
    when withdrawal not permitted, Sec. Sec. 18.7-18.9
    when withdrawal permitted, Sec. Sec. 18.5, 18.6
    withdrawal, consequences of, Sec. Sec. 18.3, 18.4
    withdrawal, in general, Sec. Sec. 18.1, 18.2
    withholding, Sec. Sec. 18.10, 18.11
Point of no quorum, second
    establishment of quorum and reading message, between, Sec. 13.27
    extend remarks, after permission to, Sec. 13.17
Point of no quorum, withdrawal of, see Withdrawal of point of no quorum
Points of order following points of no quorum, Sec. 15.3
Postponement of roll calls, Sec. 2.4
Prayer by the Chaplain
    effect of presence or absence of quorum, Sec. Sec. 12.1, 12.2
    point of order, timeliness of, before, Sec. 13.22
Prerogatives of the Chair
    calls of the House, Sec. Sec. 2.11-2.14
Presence of quorum, presumption of, in standing committee, 
    Sec. Sec. 17.5, 17.6
Presence or absence of a quorum, effect of, see Absence or presence of 
    quorum, effect of
Presumption of presence of quorum in standing committee, 
    Sec. Sec. 17.5, 17.6
Presumption of quorum, Sec. 1.3
Privilege, question of, pending vote on point of no quorum, Sec. 8.6
Procedure following refusal to adjourn, Sec. 5.14
Procedure following refusal to dispense with further proceedings, 
    Sec. 5.13
Procedures available when a quorum fails to appear
    arrests; securing attendance, Sec. Sec. 5.4-5.9
Proceedings
    adjourning or continuing, after quorum fails to appear, Sec. 10.10

[[Page 3493]]

    after quorum fails to appear on vote to suspend rules, 
        Sec. Sec. 10.14, 10.15
    permitted during absence of quorum, Sec. Sec. 1.11-1.13
    special order, during, Sec. 10.16
    vacating, Sec. Sec. 2.22-2.24
Proceedings following point of no quorum
    Committee of the Whole, Sec. Sec. 16.8-16.12
    debate on point of order, Sec. Sec. 15.1, 15.2
    parliamentary inquiries, Sec. Sec. 15.4-15.7
    points of order, Sec. 15.3
Proceedings when Committee of the Whole rises, Sec. Sec. 7.15-7.18
Proceedings, further, objection to dispensing with, Sec. Sec. 9.17-9.19
Proceedings permitted in absence of quorum, Sec. Sec. 1.11-1.13
Proceedings requiring a quorum, Sec. Sec. 1.4-1.10
    Questioning committee chairman about absence of quorum, 
        Sec. Sec. 17.17-17.19
Reading and approval of Journal, Sec. Sec. 11.1-11.6
Receipt of messages
    Journal, Sec. Sec. 11.7, 11.8
Recess before roll call completed. Sec. 8.26
Recess, motion to
    in general, Sec. 8.25
    Senate precedent, Sec. 8.28
Refusal to dispense with further proceedings
    procedure available following, Sec. 5.13
Refusal to rise
    consequences of, Sec. 7.14
Reopening doors, Sec. Sec. 6.10, 6.11
Rise, motion to
    Committee of the Whole, Sec. Sec. 7.11-7.13
    consequences of refusal, Sec. 7.14
Roll calls, effect of postponing, on point of no quorum, Sec. 13.13
Roll, inclusion of names on, Sec. Sec. 3.1-3.3
Rules, suspension of
    absence of quorum in committee as bar to floor consideration, 
        Sec. Sec. 17.22, 17.23
Securing attendance; arrests, see Attendance, securing; arrests
Senate precedents
    absence of quorum in standing committee as bar to floor 
        consideration, Sec. 17.25
     absence or presence of quorum, effect of, Sec. Sec. 10.21-10.23
    adjournment or recess, quorum call after, Sec. Sec. 2.26-2.28
    committee (standing), absence of quorum in, as bar to floor 
        consideration, Sec. 17.25
    effect of presence or absence of quorum, Sec. Sec. 10.21-10.23
    floor consideration, absence of quorum in committee as bar to, 
        Sec. 17.25
    Presiding Officer may suggest absence of quorum, Sec. 2.25
    quorum assumed to be present, Sec. 3.19 quorum, establishment of, 
        following adjournment, Sec. 8.29
    recess, motion to, Sec. 8.28
    securing attendance arrests, Sec. Sec. 5.15-5.21
    yeas and nays, demand for, seconded, Sec. 3.19
Sergeant at Arms, instructing, or adjourning after quorum fails to 
    appear, Sec. Sec. 2.19, 10.11, 10.12
Signal lights and bells, Sec. Sec. 2.20-2.22
Special orders, point of order during, Sec. 13.10
Standing committee, absence of quorum in, as bar to floor consideration
    in general, Sec. Sec. 17.1-17.4
    Christoffel v United States, Sec. 17
    presumption of presence of quorum, Sec. Sec. 17.5, 17.6

[[Page 3494]]

    questioning committee chairman as to quorum, Sec. Sec. 17.17-17.19
    rule waiving quorum requirements, Sec. 17.24
    Senate precedent, Sec. 17.25
    suspension of rules, Sec. Sec. 17.22, 17.23
    timeliness of point of order, Sec. Sec. 17.6-17.16
    United States v Bryan, Sec. 17
    withdrawal of floor consideration, Sec. Sec. 17.20, 17.21
Suspend rules
    effect of absence of quorum in standing committee as bar to floor 
        consideration, Sec. Sec. 17.22, 17.23
    proceedings after quorum fails to appear on vote to, 
        Sec. Sec. 10.14, 10.15
Tellers
    point of no quorum in Committee of the Whole as related to, demand 
        for, Sec. Sec. 7.19, 7.20
    quorum established on vote, Sec. 3.14
Timeliness of points of no quorum
    in general, Sec. Sec. 13.1-13.3
    committee, objection in House to lack of quorum in, Sec. Sec. 17.6-
        17.16
    completing action, after, Sec. Sec. 13.25, 13.26
    conference report, after agreement to, Sec. 13.26
    debate, during, Sec. Sec. 13.6-13.9
    division vote, after, Sec. 13.20
    division vote and rejection of yeas and nays, after, Sec. 13.19
    extend remarks, after permission to, Sec. 13.17
    parliamentary inquiry, preceded by, Sec. 13.18
    passage of bill, after, Sec. 13.25
    prayer, before, Sec. 13.22
    reading of resolution after establishment of quorum, during, 
        Sec. 13.28
     roll calls, effect of postponing, Sec. 13.13
    special order, during, Sec. 13.10
    voice vote, after announcement of, Sec. 13.16
Unfinished business
    Calendar Wednesday, effect of absence of quorum on, Sec. 10.20
    effect of absence of a quorum, Sec. Sec. 10.17-10.19
Vacating proceedings
    interpretation of rule, Sec. 2.22
    passage of bill, proceedings after vacating, Sec. 2.24
    unanimous-consent request to vacate proceedings, Sec. 2.23
Verification of Chair's count by tellers
    counting the House, Sec. 3.15
Vote, failure of quorum to, Sec. 2.18
Warrants and motions for arrest, Sec. Sec. 5.10-5.12
Withdrawal of floor consideration because of absence of quorum in 
    committee, Sec. Sec. 17.20, 17.21
Withdrawal of point of no quorum
    in general, Sec. Sec. 18.1, 18.2
    consequences of, Sec. Sec. 18.3, 18.4
    when not permitted, Sec. Sec. 18.7-18.9
    when permitted, Sec. Sec. 18.5, 18.6
Withholding
    point of no quorum, Sec. Sec. 18.10, 18.11
Yea and nay votes
    dispense with further proceedings, motion to, Sec. Sec. 9.14-9.16

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