This isn't the first time a political body has had such a rule, but it makes me wonder -- if by some miracle, every single republican candidate won election, does that mean they couldn't do any work in the Senate, because they wouldn't have a democrat to call quorum?
And what if there is also a green party, or a libertarian, or some other such candidate? Do each political party get the same right to block a quorum, or is it enshrined only to the two major parties?
I understand the genesis of such rules--to stop a tyrannical majority from secretly calling only their side to the chamber, and then holding a vote before the minority gets a chance to show up.
But the rule then should be that, in the absense of a minority member, all votes must be held for X hours; thus giving the minority ample time to show up.
Apparently the Wisconsin Senate requires a quorum of 20 of 33 State Senators to hold a vote. There are only 19 Republicans.
Quorum requires a percentage of legislatures. They need 20, they have 19 Republicans.
This has come up several times before, I really wish the reporters would spell this out so that this is clear!