    [Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and the Rules of the House of Representatives, 105th Congress]
    [105th Congress]
    [House Document 104-272]
    [Jeffersons Manual of ParliamentaryPractice]
    [Page 139]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    * * * * *
                                sec. vi.--quorum.

    Sec. 310. Necessity of a quorum during business, including
    debate.

      In  general the chair is not to be taken till a quorum for
    business is present; unless, after due waiting, such a quorum be
    despaired of, when the chair may be taken and the House adjourned. And
    whenever, during business, it is observed that a quorum is not present,
    any member may call for the House to be counted, and being found
    deficient, business is suspended. 2 Hats., 125, 126.

      In the House of Representatives the Speaker takes the Chair at the
    hour to which the House stood adjourned and there is no requirement that
    the House proceed immediately to establish a quorum, although the
    Speaker has the authority under clause 6 of rule XV to recognize for a
    call of the House at any time. The question of a quorum is not
    considered unless properly raised (IV, 2733; VI, 624), and it is not in
    order for the Speaker to recognize for a point of no quorum unless he
    has put the pending question or proposition to a vote. While it was
    formerly the rule that a quorum was necessary for debate as well as
    business (IV, 2935-2949), under the procedure put in effect in the 95th
    Congress such is not the case. In the 94th Congress, it was established
    by rule that certain proceedings in the House did not require a quorum
    (clause 6 of rule XV).