Call for a quorum

[mrMichael]

Does a quorum have to be taken if no one calls for one?  Ours is a small group (15 Board members and maybe 50 at the annual meeting.)  Thanks.

[Edgar Guest]

You don't "take" a quorum and you don't "call" for a quorum. You count heads to determine whether a quorum is present. And you can't pretend a quorum is present just because no one counted heads. If business is being conducted, any member who thinks a quorum isn't present should raise a point of order.

 

A "quorum call" typically occurs in legislative bodies when some members may be in the hall outside the meeting room. In that case, the "whip" goes out and rounds them up.

 

Though I suppose that, for some groups, a "quorum call" might involve calling the bar across the street and asking if any members are (still) there.

[Hieu H. Huynh]

Does a quorum have to be taken if no one calls for one?  Ours is a small group (15 Board members and maybe 50 at the annual meeting.)  Thanks.

 

A quorum is the minimum number of members present at a meeting for business to be validly conducted. Some organizations take a roll call to verify attendance (and a quorum). In any case, whether a quorum is present should be determined in some way.

[SaintCad]

There are two "Quorum Calls" that are often confused.  A Call of the House is used when a member can be compelled to attend the session.  It is actually illegal to be a U.S. Representative or Senator and not attend a session unless permission is given to be absent and a member that does not attend after a "Call of the House" are actually arrested and brought before the Speaker (House) or President (Senate).  Since attendance is mandatory, this is not technically a quorum call since it can be done even if a quorum is present.

 

For an ordinary body where attendance is not mandatory, a "quorum call" is merely a motion in which steps are taken to obtain a quorum such as calling, texting or emailing members.

[Gary Novosielski]

And it is the duty of the presiding officer to ensure that a quorum is present.

[Richard Brown]

There are two "Quorum Calls" that are often confused.  A Call of the House is used when a member can be compelled to attend the session.  It is actually illegal to be a U.S. Representative or Senator and not attend a session unless permission is given to be absent and a member that does not attend after a "Call of the House" are actually arrested and brought before the Speaker (House) or President (Senate).  Since attendance is mandatory, this is not technically a quorum call since it can be done even if a quorum is present.

 

For an ordinary body where attendance is not mandatory, a "quorum call" is merely a motion in which steps are taken to obtain a quorum such as calling, texting or emailing members.

RONR does not actually use the term "quorum call" even once.  Here are two pertinent provisions from pages 348 and 350 re steps to obtain a quorum:

 

From page 348:  "A motion that absent members be contacted during a recess would represent a measure to obtain a quorum. A motion to obtain a quorum may be moved as a main motion when no business is pending, or as a privileged motion that takes precedence over a motion to Recess (20). Such motions are out of order when another has the floor; must be seconded; are debatable except when privileged; are amendable; require a majority vote; and can be reconsidered. Motions to obtain a quorum are similar to a Call of the House, which can be ordered in assemblies having the power to compel attendance (see below)."

 

And from page 350:  "In legislative bodies or other assemblies that have legal power to compel the attendance of their members, a procedure that can be used to obtain a quorum, if necessary, is the motion for a Call of the House. This is a motion that unexcused absent members be brought to the meeting under arrest. A Call of the House is not applicable in voluntary societies.

Assemblies in which there may be occasion to order a Call of the House should adopt a rule governing this motion and providing that if one third, one fifth, or some other number less than a majority of the members or members-elect are present, they can order a Call of the House by a majority vote. When a quorum is not present, this motion should take precedence over everything except a motion to Adjourn (21). If the rule allows the call to be moved while a quorum is actually present (for the purpose of obtaining a greater attendance), the motion at such times should rank only with questions of privilege, should require a majority vote for adoption, and, if rejected, should not be allowed to be renewed while a quorum is present."

 

I add that such measures are almost unheard of in ordinary societies, other than taking a recess to try contacting absent members to encourage them to show up.

[SaintCad]

RONR does not actually use the term "quorum call" even once.  Here are two pertinent provisions from pages 348 and 350 re steps to obtain a quorum:

Which is why I put it in quotes, to denote it as a commonly-used but not RONR term cf. Call of the House.  If I refer to a specific RONR motion I use title case e.g. Quorum Call

[SaintCad]

And to add although it is outside RONR, there is a motion in the House and Senate called a Quorum Call that requires the presiding officer to formally count via roll call the number of members present.  In RONR, it is a Point of Order that a quorum is not present (p 349) and determining if a quorum is present seems rather informal and up to the discretion of the presiding officer, subject to Appeal of the Point of Order.

[Gary Novosielski]

In the Senate, the Quorum call actually has nothing to do with calling anyone or establishing a quorum.   It's just a method of wasting time standing at ease without actually taking a recess.  

 

• A member rises and addresses the chair "I suggest the absence of a quorum".
• The president instructs the clerk to call the roll.
• The clerk calls the roll sloooooooowly, perhaps one or two names every minute, while everyone goes about their business.
• When it desired to resume business, a member asks unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with.

[SaintCad]

What?!  How dare you accuse the Senate of misusing Parliamentary Law.  I am sure that every Quorum Call is because there are 50 or fewer members in the chamber.

 

[mrMichael]

Thanks to all who answered me.  I'll report these answers to our group.

 

mrMichael

[DanielEHayes]

  

 

 

   It's just a method of wasting time

 

 

  As opposed to when they are not standing at ease and they are wasting time and money.

[Gary Novosielski]

What?!  How dare you accuse the Senate of misusing Parliamentary Law.  I am sure that every Quorum Call is because there are 50 or fewer members in the chamber.

 

 

Perhaps.  But by calling the roll at a sufficiently slow speed, they ensure that they never come dangerously close to finding out.