{
  "id": "96-452",
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      "title": "Voting and Quorum Procedures in the Senate",
      "summary": "The Constitution states that \u201ca Majority of each [House] shall constitute a quorum to do business.\u201d The Senate presumes that it is complying with this requirement and that a quorum is always present unless and until the absence of a quorum is suggested or demonstrated. This presumption allows the Senate to conduct its business on the floor with fewer than 51 Senators present until a Senator \u201csuggests the absence of a quorum.\u201d\nExcept when the Senate has invoked cloture, the presiding officer may not count to determine if a quorum is present. When the absence of a quorum is suggested, therefore, the presiding officer directs the Clerk to call the roll. The Senate cannot resume its business until a majority of Senators respond to the quorum call or unless, by unanimous consent, \u201cfurther proceedings under the quorum call are dispensed with\u201d before the last Senator\u2019s name has been called. If a quorum fails to respond, the Senate may adjourn or take steps necessary to secure the attendance of enough Senators to constitute a quorum. It usually takes the latter course by agreeing to a motion that instructs the Sergeant at Arms to request the attendance of absent Senators.\nMore often than not, however, quorum calls are unrelated to attendance on the floor. Senators \u201csuggest the absence of a quorum\u201d to suspend the Senate\u2019s formal floor proceedings temporarily. There are many purposes for such quorum calls. For example, they can be used to permit informal discussions that are intended to resolve a policy disagreement or procedural problem, or to allow a Senator to reach the floor in order to make a speech or begin consideration of a bill. When a quorum call is provoked for such a purpose, it is usually ended by unanimous consent before the call of the roll has been completed.\nThe Constitution also provides that \u201cthe Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the Journal.\u201d Any Senator who has been recognized may \u201cask for the yeas and nays\u201d on whatever question the Senate is considering. If the yeas and nays are ordered at the request of at least 11 Senators (one-fifth of the minimum quorum of 51), that determines the manner in which the vote will be conducted (if it is conducted). The timing of the vote is not determined by this request. A Senator may offer an amendment and immediately ask for the yeas and nays, even if the vote is not expected to take place until hours or days later.\nIf the yeas and nays are not ordered, the Senate votes on questions by voice vote. Alternatively, if the presiding officer believes that the outcome is not in doubt, he or she may say that, \u201cwithout objection, the amendment [or motion, etc.] is agreed to.\u201d If any Senator does object, a formal vote ensues.",
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      "id": 423469,
      "date": "2013-08-19",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-06T21:00:13.414058",
      "title": "Voting and Quorum Procedures in the Senate",
      "summary": "The Constitution states that \u201ca Majority of each [House] shall constitute a quorum to do business.... \u201d The Senate presumes that it is complying with this requirement and that a quorum always is present unless and until the absence of a quorum is suggested or demonstrated. This presumption allows the Senate to conduct its business on the floor with fewer than 51 Senators present until a Senator \u201csuggests the absence of a quorum.\u201d\nExcept when the Senate has invoked cloture, the presiding officer may not count to determine if a quorum is present. When the absence of a quorum is suggested, therefore, the presiding officer directs the clerk to call the roll. The Senate cannot resume its business until a majority of Senators respond to the quorum call or unless, by unanimous consent, \u201cfurther proceedings under the quorum call are dispensed with\u201d before the last Senator\u2019s name has been called. If a quorum fails to respond, the Senate may adjourn or take steps necessary to secure the attendance of enough Senators to constitute a quorum. It usually takes the latter course by agreeing to a motion that instructs the sergeant at arms to request the attendance of absent Senators.\nMore often than not, however, quorum calls are unrelated to attendance on the floor. Senators \u201csuggest the absence of a quorum\u201d to suspend the Senate\u2019s formal floor proceedings temporarily. There are many purposes for such quorum calls. For example, they can be used to permit informal discussions that are intended to resolve a policy disagreement or procedural problem, or to allow a Senator to reach the floor in order to make a speech or begin consideration of a bill. When a quorum call is provoked for such a purpose, it usually is ended by unanimous consent before the call of the roll has been completed.\nThe Constitution also provides that \u201cthe Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those present, be entered on the Journal.\u201d Any Senator who has been recognized may \u201cask for the yeas and nays\u201d on whatever question the Senate is considering. If the yeas and nays are ordered at the request of at least 11 Senators (one-fifth of the minimum quorum of 51), that determines the manner in which the vote will be conducted (if it is conducted). The timing of the vote is not determined by this request. A Senator may offer an amendment and immediately ask for the yeas and nays, even if the vote is not expected to take place until hours or days later.\nIf the yeas and nays are not ordered, the Senate votes on questions by voice vote. Alternatively, if the presiding officer believes that the outcome is not in doubt, he or she may say that, \u201cwithout objection, the amendment (or motion, etc.) is agreed to.\u201d If any Senator does object, a formal vote ensues.",
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          "source": "CongOpsList",
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc807433/",
      "id": "96-452_2006Dec21",
      "date": "2006-12-21",
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      "id": "96-452_2003Jun16",
      "date": "2003-06-16",
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