To: Svartalfiar
Thanks for your interesting reply. As far as the quorum requirement, I wonder if it has anything to do with someone needing to request a quorum count and if there is no one there to request a count, then technically it is a session? I’m just guessing.
90 posted on
12/21/2019 10:24:58 AM PST by
Dave W
To: Dave W
Thanks for your interesting reply. As far as the quorum requirement, I wonder if it has anything to do with someone needing to request a quorum count and if there is no one there to request a count, then technically it is a session? Im just guessing.
Well if no one's there to request the quorum count, then no one's there and it's a recess. A pro forma session is still actual business conducted, where that business is just saying "we're here but not doing anything productive". If they don;t have the quorum, then they aren't in active session and can't conduct business. And in order to conduct any business, they need a majority present - 51 if there are no empty Senator seats.
Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business;
Really though, the way I read it is that the three-day adjournment rule between the Houses means that they are required to meet, with quorum, with no breaks longer than three days, unless both agree to adjourn. As soon as one doesn't do that, they still aren't technically in recess, but they have disagreed on time of adjournment (since not meeting for more than three days is an adjournment without approval from the other House), in which case the President can step in and tell them both to adjourn and go home, up until the end of the year. Or re-convene them if he wants them back sooner. (Art II Sect 3)
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