# Quorum

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{{Short description|Minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct business}}
{{other uses}}
{{Globalize|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
[[File:AGMA Ostrakon Thémistocle 1.jpg|thumb|right|Vote cast against [Themistocles](/source/Themistocles). A quorum of 6,000 was required for [ostracism](/source/ostracism) under the [Athenian democracy](/source/Athenian_democracy), according to [Plutarch](/source/Plutarch); a similar quorum was necessary in the following century for grants of [citizenship](/source/Athenian_citizenship).<ref>{{cite book|title=Democracy and Participation in Athens|publisher=[Cambridge University Press](/source/Cambridge_University_Press)|author=Sinclair, R. K.|isbn=0521423899|year=1988|pages=114–9}}</ref>]]
A '''quorum''' is the minimum number of members of a group necessary to constitute the group at a meeting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-23 |title=Definition of QUORUM |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quorum |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> In a [deliberative assembly](/source/deliberative_assembly) (a body that uses [parliamentary procedure](/source/parliamentary_procedure), such as a legislature), a quorum is necessary to conduct the business of that group.  In contrast, a [plenum](/source/plenary_session) is a meeting of the full (or rarely nearly full) body. A body, or a meeting or vote of it, is '''quorate''' if a quorum is present (or casts valid votes).

The term ''quorum'' is from a [Middle English](/source/Middle_English) wording of the [commission](/source/Letters_patent) formerly issued to [justices of the peace](/source/Justice_of_the_peace), derived from [Latin](/source/Latin) ''quorum'', "of whom", [genitive](/source/genitive) plural of ''qui'', "[who](/source/Who_(pronoun))".<ref>"[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quorum Quorum] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123080802/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quorum|date=23 November 2016}}," ''Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary'', 11th Edition.</ref> As a result, ''quora'' as plural of ''quorum'' is not a grammatically [well-formed](/source/Well-formedness) Latin-language construction. In modern times, a quorum might be defined as the minimum number of voters needed for a valid election. Quorums are often part of [parliamentary procedure](/source/parliamentary_procedure).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised|last=Robert|first=Henry M.|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=2011|isbn=978-0-306-82020-5|location = Philadelphia, PA|page=21|edition=11th|url=http://www.robertsrules.com/book.html|display-authors=etal|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813113356/http://www.robertsrules.com/book.html|archive-date=13 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==In ''Robert's Rules of Order''==
{{Further|Robert's Rules of Order}}

According to Robert, each assembly determines the number of members that constitutes a quorum in its governing documents (such as in its constitution, [charter](/source/charter), [bylaw](/source/bylaw)s or [standing orders](/source/Rules_of_order)). The quorum may also be set by law. ''Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised'' states that the quorum set in an organization's bylaws "should approximate the largest number that can be depended on to attend any meeting except in very bad weather or other extremely unfavorable conditions."<ref name=":0" />

In the absence of such a provision, a quorum is an assembly whose membership can be determined is a majority of the entire membership.<ref name=":0" /> In the meetings of a [convention](/source/Convention_(meeting)), unless provided otherwise, a quorum is a majority of registered delegates, even if some have departed. In a [mass meeting](/source/mass_meeting) or in an organization in which the membership cannot be accurately determined, the quorum consists of those who attend the meeting.<ref name=":0" />

In [committee](/source/committee)s and [boards](/source/Board_of_directors), a quorum is a majority of the members of the board or committee unless provided otherwise. The board or committee cannot set its own quorum unless given such power.<ref>{{Harvnb|Robert|2011|p = 347}}</ref> In a [committee of the whole](/source/Committee_of_the_Whole) or its variants, a quorum is the same as the assembly unless otherwise provided.

In online groups, a quorum has to be determined in a different manner since no one is actually "present".  The rules establishing such groups would have to prescribe this determination.<ref name=":3">{{Harvard citation no brackets|Robert|2011|p = 99}}</ref> An example is that a quorum in such groups could be established as "present" if enough members state that they are "present" at the designated meeting time.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.aipparl.org/pdf/AIPemeet5.PDF|title = Electronic Meetings: Rules for Electronic (e-mail) Meetings or The E-liberative Assembly|date = July 2001|access-date = 23 January 2016|website = aipparl.org|publisher = American Institute of Parliamentarians|last = Stackpole|first = John D.|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171148/http://www.aipparl.org/pdf/AIPemeet5.PDF|archive-date = 3 March 2016|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

===Determination of a quorum===
The chairperson of the group has the responsibility to determine if a quorum is present.<ref name=":1">{{Harvnb|Robert|2011|p = 349}}</ref> In addition, any member can raise a [point of order](/source/point_of_order) about an apparent absence of a quorum.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.robertsrules.com/faq.html#3|title = Frequently Asked Questions about RONR (Question 3)|access-date = 13 December 2015|website = The Official Robert's Rules of Order Web Site|publisher = The Robert's Rules Association|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041112102258/http://www.robertsrules.com/faq.html#3|archive-date = 12 November 2004|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Because it is difficult to determine exactly when a quorum was lost, points of order relating to the absence of a quorum are "generally not permitted to affect prior action; but upon clear and convincing proof, such a point of order can be given effect retrospectively by a ruling of the presiding officer, subject to [appeal](/source/Appeal_(motion))."<ref name=":1" />

===Limited actions in the absence of a quorum===
When a quorum is not met, the assembly can take only limited procedural actions. These limited actions are [to fix the time to which to adjourn](/source/Fix_the_time_to_which_to_adjourn), [adjourn](/source/Adjourn_(motion)), [recess](/source/Recess_(motion)), or take measures to obtain a quorum, such as a [motion](/source/Motion_(parliamentary_procedure)) that absent members be contacted during a recess.<ref name=":6">{{Harvnb|Robert|2011|p = 348}}</ref>

Any other business that is conducted is not valid unless it is [ratified](/source/Ratification) at a later meeting where a quorum is present. However, there is no obligation to ratify such action and those responsible may be punished for their actions.<ref name=":6" />

===Call of the house===
In legislatures and other assemblies that have the legal power to compel the attendance of their members, the call of the house procedure may be used to obtain a quorum.<ref name=":2">{{Harvnb|Robert|2011|pp = 350–351}}</ref> This procedure does not exist in ordinary societies, since [voluntary association](/source/voluntary_association)s have no [coercive](/source/Coercion) power.<ref name=":2" />

When a call of the house is ordered, the [clerk](/source/clerk) calls the roll of members and then the names of absentees. Members who do not have an excused absence are arrested and brought in.<ref name=":2" /> The arrested members may be charged a fee.<ref name=":2" />

Both chambers of the [United States Congress](/source/United_States_Congress) have the power to compel the attendance of absent members; this procedure, authorized by [Article I, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution](/source/Article_One_of_the_United_States_Constitution) is rarely used in the modern Congress.<ref>Martin B. Gold & Ronald Weich, [https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/article-i/clauses/760 Common Interpretation: Article I, Section 5], ''Interactive Constitution'', National Constitution Center.</ref><ref>[https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/98-988 Voting and Quorum Procedures in the House of Representatives], Congressional Research Service (March 26, 2020), p. 12.</ref>

==No-show paradox==
Quorums have been criticized by [social choice theorist](/source/social_choice_theorist)s for their [pathological](/source/Pathological_(mathematics)) behavior, including an absurd result called a [no-show paradox](/source/no-show_paradox), where a proposal may pass because ''too'' ''many'' members oppose it.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Aguiar-Conraria |first1=Luís |last2=Magalhães |first2=Pedro C. |date=2009-09-19 |title=Referendum design, quorum rules and turnout |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11127-009-9504-1 |journal=Public Choice |volume=144 |issue=1–2 |pages=63–81 |doi=10.1007/s11127-009-9504-1 |issn=0048-5829|hdl=1822/7721 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> This has led many jurisdictions and bodies to replace traditional quorums with quorums of votes in favor, i.e. a requirement that any proposal be supported by a certain [share of the entire membership](/source/Supermajority) to pass (e.g. 25% of all members).<ref name=":4" />

==By country==

===Australia===
While [Section 22](/source/Section_22_of_the_Constitution_of_Australia) and [section 39 of the Constitution of Australia](/source/section_39_of_the_Constitution_of_Australia) set the quorum for sittings of the [House of Representatives](/source/Australian_House_of_Representatives) and [Senate](/source/Australian_Senate) at one-third of the whole number of MPs and senators, respectively, [Parliament](/source/Parliament_of_Australia) is permitted to change the quorum for each House by ordinary legislation.

In the House of Representatives, the quorum was amended down to one-fifth by the House of Representatives (Quorum) Act 1989, which means the quorum of the current House of 151 MPs is 31 MPs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/house/pubs/gtp/chapter4.htm |title=Guide to Procedures |publisher=Aph.gov.au |date=18 March 2005 |access-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221185344/http://www.aph.gov.au/house/pubs/gtp/chapter4.htm |archive-date=21 December 2008 }}</ref> In the senate, the quorum was amended down to one-quarter by the Senate (Quorum) Act 1991, so 19 senators is a quorum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/pubs/odgers/chap0802.htm |title=Chapter 8, Odgers' Australian Senate Practice Eleventh Edition |publisher=Aph.gov.au |access-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815185831/http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/pubs/odgers/chap0802.htm |archive-date=15 August 2008 }}</ref> The quorum includes the occupant of the [Chair](/source/President_of_the_Australian_Senate), and is not reduced by the death or resignation of a member or senator.

If at the beginning of a sitting the quorum is not met, the bells are rung for five minutes and a count is then taken; if the quorum is still not met the sitting is adjourned until the next sitting day. During the sitting, any MP or senator may draw attention to the lack of quorum in which the bells are rung for four minutes, and if a quorum is still not met the sitting is adjourned.

Although quorum-busting is virtually unheard of in Australia, it is not unknown for parties to deliberately use quorum counts as a disruptive tactic and there have been some suggestions to enact rules to restrict this practice; however, this is very difficult due to the explicit mention of a quorum in the constitution. It is considered disorderly to call attention to quorum when one exists, and members or senators who do so can be punished.

====State and territorial quorums====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! State/Territory !! Legislative Council !! Legislative Assembly / House&nbsp;of&nbsp;Assembly
|-
| [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales) || 9<ref>Section 22H of the ''Constitution Act 1902'' (NSW)</ref> (of 42) || 21<ref>Section 32 of the ''Constitution Act 1902'' (NSW)</ref> (of 93)
|-
| [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(State)) || One-third<ref>Section 32 of the ''Constitution Act 1975'' (Vic)</ref> (14 of 40)||21<ref>Section 40 of the ''Constitution Act 1975'' (Vic)</ref> (of 88)
|-
| [Queensland](/source/Queensland) || N/A{{efn|Queensland abolished their [Legislative Council](/source/Legislative_Council_of_Queensland) in 1922. At the time of establishment in 1867, one-third + President was  quorum.}} || 17<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/assembly/procedures/StandingRules&Orders.pdf|title=Standing Rules and Orders of the Queensland Legislative Assembly}}</ref> (of 93)
|-
| [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia) || one-third + President <ref name="auto">Section 24 of the ''Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899'' (WA)</ref> (13 of 36)|| one-third + Speaker <ref name="auto"/> (21 of 59)
|-
| [South Australia](/source/South_Australia) || 10<ref>Section 26 of the ''Constitution Act 1934'' (SA)</ref> (of 22)|| 17<ref>Section 37 of the ''Constitution Act 1934'' (SA)</ref> (of 47)
|-
| [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania) || 7<ref>Section 20 of the ''Constitution Act 1934'' (Tas)</ref> (of 15)|| 14<ref>Section 25 of the ''Constitution Act 1934'' (Tas)</ref> (of 25)
|-
| [Australian Capital Territory](/source/Australian_Capital_Territory) || N/A{{efn|The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have never had a legislative council.|name=austerritory}} || majority<ref>Subsection 18(1) of the ''Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988'' (Cth)</ref> (13 of 25)
|-
| [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory) || N/A{{efn|name=austerritory}} || 10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://parliament.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/377789/Standing-Orders-4th-Edition-as-at-25-July-2023.pdf |title=Standing Orders of the NT Legislative Assembly |access-date=2024-01-03}}</ref> (of 25)
|}

=== Austria ===
In the [National Council of Austria](/source/National_Council_of_Austria) at least one-third of the representatives must be present, so that they may decide on a simple law (participation quorum of 33.3%). At least half of the members must participate if a constitutional law should pass the parliament (participation quorum of 50% based on the total number of members). Over and above that, constitutional laws require the consent of at least two-thirds of the members present (quorum agreement of 66.6% based on the number of voting present).

===Canada===
In Canada, the [Constitution Act, 1867](/source/Constitution_Act%2C_1867) sets quorum for sittings of the [House of Commons of Canada](/source/House_of_Commons_of_Canada) at 20 [MPs](/source/Member_of_Parliament). If a member calls for quorum to be counted and a first count shows there are fewer than 20 members, bells are rung to call in the members; if after 15 minutes there are still fewer than 20 members, the session is adjourned to the next sitting day; the members present sign a roll on the [table of the house](/source/table_of_the_house), and this list is included in the Journal of the House. There is no need for quorum when the attendance of the House is requested in the [Senate of Canada](/source/Senate_of_Canada), for example, when [royal assent](/source/royal_assent) is being given to bills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/MarleauMontpetit/DocumentViewer.aspx?DocId=1001&Sec=Ch09&Seq=3&Lang=E |title=Marleau, Robert, and Camille Montpetit, eds. ''House of Commons Procedure and Practice.'' 2000 ed. Accessed 13 June 2008 |publisher=Parl.gc.ca |access-date=20 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728001228/http://www.parl.gc.ca/MarleauMontpetit/DocumentViewer.aspx?DocId=1001&Sec=Ch09&Seq=3&Lang=E |archive-date=28 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The quorum of the Senate is 15.<ref>{{Cite canlaw|chapter=3|section=35|link=https://canlii.ca/t/8q7k#sec35|year=1867|short title=The Constitution Act|abbr=Vict.}}</ref>

====Provincial and territorial quorums====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Province/Territory !! Quorum
|-
| [Alberta](/source/Alberta) || 10<ref>{{cite web |last=Lawton |first=Kenneth A. |date=November 20, 2023 |title=Archived copy Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Effective November 20, 2023 |url=https://www.assembly.ab.ca/docs/default-source/reference/assembly-documents/standingorders.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125183239/https://www.assembly.ab.ca/pro/standing/standing_orders.pdf |archive-date=25 November 2015 |access-date=2015-11-25 |website=www.assembly.ab.ca/ }}</ref>
|-
| [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia) || 10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96066_01#section42|title=Constitution Act|website=www.bclaws.ca|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920050249/http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96066_01#section42|archive-date=20 September 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| [Manitoba](/source/Manitoba) || 10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/l110e.php|title=Manitoba Laws|first=Manitoba|last=Justice|website=web2.gov.mb.ca|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204071829/http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/l110e.php|archive-date=4 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| [New Brunswick](/source/New_Brunswick) || 14<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gnb.ca/legis/publications/rules-reglement.pdf |title=Welcome - Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick |access-date=2013-10-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531235848/http://www.gnb.ca/legis/publications/rules-reglement.pdf |archive-date=31 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
| [Newfoundland and Labrador](/source/Newfoundland_and_Labrador) || 15<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marland |first=Alex |date=Feb 2011 |title=Order, Please!: The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly |url=http://www.studyparliament.ca/English/pdf/Newfoundland_Marland-e.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021185349/http://www.studyparliament.ca/English/pdf/Newfoundland_Marland-e.pdf |archive-date=21 Oct 2013 |website=Canadian Study of Parliament Group}}</ref>
|-
| [Northwest Territories](/source/Northwest_Territories) || majority<ref>{{cite web |title=Northwest Territories Act |url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-27/page-3.html?texthighlight=quorum#s-13. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021191223/http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-27/page-3.html?texthighlight=quorum#s-13. |archive-date=21 October 2013 |website=laws-lois.justice.gc.ca}}</ref>
|-
| [Nova Scotia](/source/Nova_Scotia) || 15<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nslegislature.ca/legc/rules.htm|title=Rules and Forms of Procedure<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=nslegislature.ca|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208020734/http://nslegislature.ca/legc/rules.htm|archive-date=8 December 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| [Nunavut](/source/Nunavut) || majority<ref>{{cite web |url=http://assembly.nu.ca/sites/default/files/Rules%20of%20the%20Legislative%20Assembly%20of%20Nunavut%20-%20May%202013%20-%20English%20-%20Print%20Version.pdf |title=Rules of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut |date=May 2013 |publisher=Legislative Assembly of Nunavut |access-date=16 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007023441/http://assembly.nu.ca/sites/default/files/Rules%20of%20the%20Legislative%20Assembly%20of%20Nunavut%20-%20May%202013%20-%20English%20-%20Print%20Version.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
| [Ontario](/source/Ontario) || 12<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/go2.jsp?Page=/house-proceedings/supporting-content/files/standing_orders&menuitem=dandp_proceedi..|title=Standing Orders - Legislative Assembly of Ontario|website=www.ontla.on.ca|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105083143/http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/go2.jsp?Page=%2Fhouse-proceedings%2Fsupporting-content%2Ffiles%2Fstanding_orders&menuitem=dandp_proceedi..|archive-date=5 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| [Prince Edward Island](/source/Prince_Edward_Island) || 10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/legassembly_rul.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-10-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021182638/http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/legassembly_rul.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
| [Quebec](/source/Quebec) || 21<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/patrimoine/lexique/quorum.html|title=Quorum - National Assembly of Québec|website=www.assnat.qc.ca|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021184722/http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/patrimoine/lexique/quorum.html|archive-date=21 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| [Saskatchewan](/source/Saskatchewan) || 15<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/about/glossary/|title=Glossary|website=www.legassembly.sk.ca|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020204659/http://www.legassembly.sk.ca/about/glossary/|archive-date=20 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| [Yukon](/source/Yukon) || majority<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/Y-2.01/FullText.html|title=Consolidated federal laws of canada, Yukon Act|first=Legislative Services|last=Branch|website=laws-lois.justice.gc.ca|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021190914/http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/Y-2.01/FullText.html|archive-date=21 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|}

=== Germany ===
In the German [Bundestag](/source/Bundestag) more than half of the members (currently 369 out of 736) must be present so that it is empowered to make resolutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deutscher Bundestag - VI. Tagesordnung, Einberufung, Leitung der Sitzung und Ordnungsmaßnahm... |url=https://www.bundestag.de/parlament/aufgaben/rechtsgrundlagen/go_btg/go06-245164 |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Deutscher Bundestag |language=de |archive-date=18 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918163253/https://www.bundestag.de/parlament/aufgaben/rechtsgrundlagen/go_btg/go06-245164 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is however common that fewer members are present, because they can still make effective decisions as long as no parliamentary group or 5% of the members of the parliament are complaining about the lack of quorum. This, in rare cases, is used by opposition parties to delay votes.<ref name=":5">{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundestag-beendet-sitzung-wegen-zu-wenig-teilnehmern-a-839079.html |title=Bundestag bricht überraschend Sitzung ab |newspaper=Der Spiegel |publisher=Spiegel Online |date=15 June 2012 |access-date=15 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616093852/http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundestag-beendet-sitzung-wegen-zu-wenig-teilnehmern-a-839079.html |archive-date=16 June 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Hong Kong ===
Article 75 of the [Basic Law of Hong Kong](/source/Basic_Law_of_Hong_Kong) stipulates that the quorum required for the meetings of the [Legislative Council of Hong Kong](/source/Legislative_Council_of_Hong_Kong) (LegCo) as "not less than one-half of its members". Between 1997 and 2012 the quorum was 30, and since 2012 it has been 35. Prior to 1997 [transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong](/source/transfer_of_sovereignty_over_Hong_Kong), the quorum was set at 20.

The quorum for the [panels, committees and subcommittees](/source/Select_committee_(parliamentary_system)) is, nevertheless, one-third or three members, whichever the greater, as according to the Rules of Procedure. The three standing committees, namely, the Finance Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and Committee on Members' Interests, is exceptional that the quorums are 9, 3 and 3 respectively.

=== India ===
{{Further|Constitution of India|Parliament of India}}

[Article 100](/source/s%3AConstitution_of_India%2FPart_V) of the [Constitution of India](/source/Constitution_of_India) stipulates that at least 10% of total number of members of the House must be present to constitute the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of [Parliament](/source/Parliament_of_India). For example, if the House has the total membership of 250, at least 25 members must be present for the House to proceedings with its business.<ref name="Rajya sabha handbook">{{cite web|title=Rajya sabha handbook|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/handbook/chapter1-1.asp|access-date=3 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927002923/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/handbook/chapter1-1.asp|archive-date=27 September 2012}}</ref>

If at any time during a meeting of a House there is no quorum, the chairman has to either adjourn the House or suspend it until there is a quorum.<ref name="Rajya sabha handbook"/>

=== Ireland ===
According to the most recent standing orders, published in 2011, the quorum for the [Oireachtas](/source/Oireachtas), the Irish parliament, for both the lower House, [Dáil Éireann](/source/D%C3%A1il_%C3%89ireann), and the upper House, [Seanad Éireann](/source/Seanad_%C3%89ireann), is 20 members.

The chamber of Dáil Éireann is rarely full outside question time, with often just one government representative (often an ordinary [Teachta Dála](/source/Teachta_D%C3%A1la), not a minister) present to answer opposition questions.

=== Italy ===
Article 64 of the [Italian Constitution](/source/Italian_Constitution) prescribes that the quorum for both houses of [Parliament](/source/Italian_Parliament) is an absolute majority of their membership. A quorum is assumed to be present unless 20 members in the [Chamber of Deputies](/source/Chamber_of_Deputies_(Italy)) or 7 members in the [Senate](/source/Senate_of_the_Republic_(Italy)), respectively, request for its presence to be verified.

===New Zealand===

In the [New Zealand Parliament](/source/New_Zealand_Parliament) there is no general quorum for the House to conduct business.  The House's previous requirement for a quorum (15 members in a House of 99 members) was abolished in 1996.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/chapter-4-members-conditions-of-service/ | title = Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand: Members' Conditions of Service | author = New Zealand Parliament | access-date = 15 July 2023 | archive-date = 4 October 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231004202650/https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/chapter-4-members-conditions-of-service/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> Some procedures do require minimum participation: a motion without notice to suspend the Standing Orders can be moved only if at least 60 members are present, and a personal vote requires at least 20 participating members.

===Pakistan===
Article 55 of the [constitution of Pakistan](/source/constitution_of_Pakistan), states that, if at any time during a sitting of the [National Assembly](/source/National_Assembly_(Pakistan)) the attention of the person presiding is drawn to the fact that less than one-fourth of the total membership of the Assembly is present, he shall either adjourn the Assembly or suspend the meeting until at least one-fourth of such membership is present, which currently comprises 84 out of total 336.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-26 |title=Maintaining Quorum: A Shared Responsibility Of Democracy |url=https://thefridaytimes.com/26-Jan-2025/maintaining-quorum-a-shared-responsibility-of-democracy |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=The Friday Times |language=en}}</ref>

===Philippines===
In [Congress of the Philippines](/source/Congress_of_the_Philippines), majority of the membership (13 in the [Senate](/source/Senate_of_the_Philippines) and 160 in the [House of Representatives](/source/House_of_Representatives_of_the_Philippines)) is needed to muster a quorum. If someone contests the lack of quorum, a [roll call](/source/Voting_methods_in_deliberative_assemblies) shall be done, and if there is indeed less than a majority of members present, the meeting shall be adjourned.

Both majority and minority blocs in Congress have used the lack of quorum in defeating bills that they do not want to be passed without putting it to a vote. After an election during the [lame-duck session](/source/lame-duck_session), quorums are notoriously difficult to muster, more so in the [House of Representatives](/source/House_of_Representatives_of_the_Philippines) as winning incumbents may opt to go on vacation, and defeated incumbents may opt not to show up.

In ''Avelino vs. Cuenco'', the [Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_the_Philippines) ruled that members outside the Philippines are not included in the determination of quorum.

===Turkey===

According to article 96 of the [Turkish Constitution](/source/Turkish_Constitution), unless otherwise stipulated in the Constitution, the [Turkish Grand National Assembly](/source/Turkish_Grand_National_Assembly) shall convene with at least, one-third of the total number of members (184 out of 550) and shall take decisions by an absolute majority of those present; however, the quorum for decisions can, under no circumstances, be less than a quarter plus one of the total
number of members (138 out of 550).

Before the [constitutional referendum of 2007](/source/2007_Turkish_constitutional_referendum), there was a quorum of two-thirds required in the Turkish Parliament: after opposition parties used the quorum to deadlock the [presidential election of 2007](/source/2007_Turkish_presidential_election), making it impossible for the parliament to choose a president, the ruling AK party proposed a referendum to lower the quorum to prevent a repeat of this event. Nearly seventy percent of the participants supported the constitutional changes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 April 2017 |title=Opinion {{!}} Turkey’s Good-Governance Referendum (Published 2017) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/14/opinion/turkeys-good-governance-referendum.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622001526/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/14/opinion/turkeys-good-governance-referendum.html |archive-date=22 June 2024 |access-date=19 December 2025 |work=New York Times |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
In the [Parliament of the United Kingdom](/source/Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom), the [House of Commons](/source/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom) has a quorum of 40 MPs, including the [Speaker](/source/Speaker_of_the_House_of_Commons_(United_Kingdom)), out of 650 members of the House. There is no need for a quorum to be present at all times: Commons debates could theoretically continue even if only one MP and the Speaker were present.

However, if a [division](/source/Division_of_the_assembly) is called and fewer than 40 MPs are present, then a decision on the business being considered is postponed and the House moves on to consider the next item of business.

The quorum for votes on legislation in the [House of Lords](/source/House_of_Lords) is 30, but just three of the 753 [peers](/source/Peerage), including the [Lord Speaker](/source/Lord_Speaker), are required to be present for a debate to take place.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/82488.stm |title=Quorum |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204030810/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/82488.stm |archive-date=4 December 2009 |date=23 October 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Historically, the quorum was a select group of the [justices of the peace](/source/justice_of_the_peace) in each county in [early modern Britain](/source/early_modern_Britain). In theory, they were men experienced in law, but many of the quorum were appointed because of their status. Some legislation required the involvement of a member of the quorum (e.g., granting a license to a [badger](/source/badger_(person))). In practice, they increasingly were not qualified, as the proportion in the quorum rose faster than the proportion who were called to the bar or practising lawyers. By 1532, an average 45% of justices of the peace nationally were of the quorum. In [Somerset](/source/Somerset), the proportion rose from 52% in 1562 to 93% in 1636. By then, most of those not on the quorum were new to the bench. Sometimes justices of the peace were removed from the quorum as a disciplinary measure less drastic than removal from the bench.<ref>{{cite book |last=Gleason |first=John Howes |title=The Justices of the Peace in England, 1558–1640: A Later Eirenarcha |publisher=[Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press) |date=1969 |isbn=978-0-19-821383-3}}</ref>

===United Nations===
The large deliberative bodies of the United Nations (the [General Assembly](/source/United_Nations_General_Assembly) and [Economic and Social Council](/source/United_Nations_Economic_and_Social_Council), as well as their subsidiary organs) generally require the attendance of one-third of the membership (currently 65 states in the General Assembly and 18 in ECOSOC) to conduct most business, but a majority of members (currently 97 states in the General Assembly and 28 states in ECOSOC) in order to take any substantive decisions.<ref>{{cite web| url   =https://www.un.org/en/ga/about/ropga/plenary.shtml| title   =UN General Assembly Rules of Procedure| author   =United Nations General Assembly| author-link   =United Nations General Assembly| publisher   =United Nations| access-date   =23 April 2012| url-status   =live| archive-url   =https://web.archive.org/web/20120113095649/http://www.un.org/en/ga/about/ropga/plenary.shtml| archive-date   =13 January 2012| df   =dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/pdf/rules.pdf | title = UN Economic and Social Council Rules of Procedure | author = United Nations Economic and Social Council | author-link = United Nations Economic and Social Council | publisher = United Nations | access-date = 23 April 2012 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120331003602/http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/pdf/rules.pdf | archive-date = 31 March 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The rules of the [United Nations Security Council](/source/United_Nations_Security_Council) make no provisions for quorum, but nine votes are in all cases required to pass any substantive measure, effectively meaning that a meeting with fewer than nine members in attendance is pointless.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/Docs/sc/scrules.htm |title=UN Security Council Provisional Rules of Procedure |author=United Nations Security Council |author-link=United Nations Security Council |year=1983 |publisher=United Nations |access-date=23 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510224150/http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/scrules.htm |archive-date=10 May 2012 }}</ref>

===United States===
{{United States Senate}}
[Article I, Section 5, Clause 1](/source/Article_One_of_the_United_States_Constitution) of the [United States Constitution](/source/United_States_Constitution) provides that "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..."

Therefore, in both the [House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) and the [Senate](/source/United_States_Senate), a quorum is a [simple majority](/source/majority) of their respective members (currently 218 in the House and 51 in the Senate).

The only exceptions are those stated in the [Twelfth Amendment](/source/Twelfth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution):
* In cases where no candidate for President of the United States receives a majority in the [Electoral College](/source/Electoral_College_(United_States)), the election is decided by the House of Representatives, in which case "a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states" (a possible quorum as low as 34).
* In cases in which no candidate for Vice President of the United States receives a majority in the [Electoral College](/source/Electoral_College_(United_States)), the election is decided by the Senate, in which case "a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators" (a quorum of 67).

The Senate has the additional ordinary requirement in [Rule VI](/source/Standing_Rules_of_the_United_States_Senate%2C_Rule_VI) of its [Standing Rules](/source/Standing_Rules_of_the_United_States_Senate) that "A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Senators duly chosen and [sworn](/source/Oath_of_office)."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rybicki|first1=Elizabeth|title=Quorum Requirements in the Senate: Committee and Chamber|date=8 June 2017|publisher=Congressional Research Service|location=Washington, DC|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/98-775.pdf|access-date=31 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212000552/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/98-775.pdf|archive-date=12 December 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==== Call of the house in the United States Senate ====
In the [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate), the procedure was last used in the early morning hours of 25 February 1988.

Senator [Robert C. Byrd](/source/Robert_C._Byrd) of [West Virginia](/source/West_Virginia), then the [Senate Majority Leader](/source/Party_leaders_of_the_United_States_Senate), moved a call of the house after the minority [Republicans](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) walked out of the chamber in an attempt to deny the Senate a quorum after Senate aides began bringing [cots](/source/Camp_bed) into the Senate [cloakroom](/source/cloakroom)s in preparation for an all-night session over [campaign finance reform](/source/Campaign_finance_reform_in_the_United_States) for congressional elections.

Byrd's motion was approved 45-3 and [arrest warrant](/source/arrest_warrant)s were signed for all 46 Republicans: [Senate Sergeant-at-Arms](/source/Sergeant_at_Arms_of_the_United_States_Senate) [Henry K. Giugni](/source/Henry_K._Giugni) and his staff searched the Capitol's corridor and [Senate office buildings](/source/Congressional_office_buildings) for absent Senators, and after checking several empty offices, spotted Senator [Steve Symms](/source/Steve_Symms) of [Idaho](/source/Idaho), who fled down a hallway and escaped arrest. After a cleaning woman gave a tip that Senator [Robert Packwood](/source/Robert_Packwood) of [Oregon](/source/Oregon) was in his office, Giugni opened the door with a [skeleton key](/source/skeleton_key). Packwood attempted to shove the door closed, but Giugni and two assistants pushed it open. Packwood was subsequently carried feet-first into the Senate chamber by three plainclothes officers and sustained bruised [knuckle](/source/knuckle)s.<ref name="latimes1988">Lauter, David. "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-25-mn-45210-story.html Senate Police Seize Packwood for Quorum Call] ." ''Los Angeles Times'' 25 February 1988.</ref>
 
Prior to 1988, the last time the procedure had been used was during a 1942 [filibuster](/source/filibuster) over [civil rights](/source/civil_rights) legislation:<ref name="latimes1988"/> [Southern Democrat](/source/Southern_Democrats) senators had spent days filibustering legislation to end [poll taxes](/source/Poll_tax_(United_States)), days after the [midterm elections](/source/1942_United_States_Senate_elections) had resulted in the Democrats losing of nine seats. Democratic Majority Leader [Alben W. Barkley](/source/Alben_W._Barkley) obtained an order on a Saturday session on 14 November 1942, directing Sergeant at Arms Chesley W. Jurney to detain the five Southern absentees to obtain a quorum. Jurney sent his Deputy Sergeant at Arms, J. Mark Trice, to the apartment of Democratic Senator [Kenneth McKellar](/source/Kenneth_McKellar_(politician)) of [Tennessee](/source/Tennessee) at the [Mayflower Hotel](/source/Mayflower_Hotel). Then 73 years old and the third-most [senior Senator](/source/Seniority_in_the_United_States_Senate), McKellar was later described by Republican Senator [Bill Frist](/source/Bill_Frist) in his book on Tennessee senators as an "extraordinarily shrewd man of husky dimensions with a long memory and a short fuse." Trice called from the lobby, but McKellar refused to answer his phone, so the deputy sergeant-at-arms walked up to the apartment and convinced the senator's [maid](/source/maid) to let him in:<ref name="senate1942">"[https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Getting_even.htm November 14, 1942: Arrests Compel Senate Quorum] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829034540/https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Getting_even.htm |date=29 August 2017 }}." United States Senate History.</ref>
 
{{blockquote|When Trice explained that McKellar was urgently needed back at the Capitol, the 73-year-old legislator agreed to accompany him. As they approached the Senate wing, McKellar suddenly realized what was up. An aide later recalled, "His face grew redder and redder. By the time the car reached the Senate entrance, McKellar shot out and barreled through the corridors to find the source of his summons."<br />Barkley got his quorum...<ref name="senate1942"/>}}

=== Summary per legislature ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Country
!Lower (or sole) house
!Upper house
!Notes
|-
|{{Flag country|AUS}}
|One-fifth of all members
|One-fourth of all members
|
|-
|{{Flag country|AUT}}
|One-third of all members
|
|
|-
|{{Flag country|CAN}}
|20 members
|15 members
|
|-
|{{Flag country|GER}}
|Majority of all members
|
|
|-
|{{Flag country|HKG}}
|Majority of all members
|
|
|-
|{{Flag country|IND}}
|One-tenth of all members
|One-tenth of all members
|
|-
|{{Flag country|IRE}}
|20 members
|20 members
|
|-
|{{Flag country|ITA}}
|Majority of all members
|Majority of all members
|
|-
|{{Flag country|NZL}}
|None
|
|
|-
|{{Flag country|PAK}}
|One-fourth of all members
|
|
|-
|{{Flag country|PHI}}
|Majority of all members
|Majority of all members
|Members outside the Philippines are not included in determination
|-
|{{Flag country|TUR}}
|One-third of all members
|
|
|-
|{{Flag country|UK}}
|40 members
|30 members
|
|-
|{{Flag country|USA}}
|Majority of all members
|Majority of all members
|[Twelfth amendment](/source/Twelfth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution) provision is "two-thirds of states" for either chamber
|}

==Quorum-busting==
'''Quorum-busting''', also known as a '''walkout''', is a tactic that prevents a legislative body from attaining a quorum, and can be used by a minority group seeking to block the adoption of some measure they oppose. This generally only happens where the quorum is a super-majority, as quorums of a majority or less of the membership mean that the support of a majority of members is always sufficient for the quorum (as well as for passage). Rules to discourage quorum-busting have been adopted by legislative bodies, such as the call of the house, outlined above.

Quorum-busting has been used for centuries. For instance, in 1840 during his time in the [Illinois Legislature](/source/Illinois_Legislature), [Abraham Lincoln](/source/Early_life_and_career_of_Abraham_Lincoln) leapt out of a first story window (the doors of the [Capitol](/source/Old_State_Capitol_State_Historic_Site_(Illinois)) had been locked to prevent legislators from fleeing) in a failed attempt to prevent a quorum from being present.<ref>{{cite book|last=Donald|first=David Herbert|title=Lincoln|year=1995|publisher=Random House|page=77}}</ref>

===Recent prominent examples ===
[[File:Jim Dunnam TX House.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[Jim Dunnam](/source/Jim_Dunnam) led the "Killer Ds" walkout, a prominent example of quorum-busting.]]

====Texas (2003, 2021, 2025)====
The [Texas Constitution](/source/Texas_Constitution) requires a 2/3 majority in each chamber of the [Texas Legislature](/source/Texas_Legislature) for a quorum to be present (unlike the United States Congress, and most state legislatures which only requires a simple majority).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Noteworthy state legislative walkouts |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Noteworthy_state_legislative_walkouts |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>  As such, on several occasions, the minority party has engaged in a walkout so as to prevent a quorum.

During the [2003 Texas redistricting](/source/2003_Texas_redistricting), the majority [Republicans](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) in the [Texas House of Representatives](/source/Texas_House_of_Representatives) sought to carry out a controversial mid-decade congressional redistricting bill which would have favored Republicans by displacing five Democratic U.S. Representatives from Texas, nicknamed the "Texas Five", from their districts. The House [Democrats](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), certain of defeat if a quorum were present, took a plane to the neighboring state of [Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma) to prevent a quorum from being present (and thus the passage of the bill). The group gained the nickname the "Killer Ds".

Similarly, the minority Democrats in the [Texas Legislature](/source/Texas_Legislature)'s [upper chamber](/source/upper_chamber), the [Texas Senate](/source/Texas_Senate), fled to [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico) to prevent a quorum of the Senate to prevent a redistricting bill from being considered during a [special session](/source/special_session). The group, nicknamed the "Texas Eleven", stayed in New Mexico for 46 days before [John Whitmire](/source/John_Whitmire) returned to Texas, creating a quorum. Because there was now no point in staying in New Mexico, the remaining ten members of the Texas Eleven returned to Texas to vote in opposition to the bill.

On May 30, 2021 [Democratic](/source/Texas_Democratic_Party) House Representatives in [Texas](/source/Texas) left the chamber during debate on a controversial bill relating to voting rules.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=A |last2=s |last3=s |last4=o |last5=c |last6=i |last7=a |last8=t |last9=e |date=2021-05-31 |title=Texas Democrats Walk Out, Stop Republicans' Sweeping Voting Restrictions |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/31/1001811919/texas-democrats-walk-out-stop-republicans-sweeping-voting-restrictions |access-date=2025-08-05 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> Their absence caused the bill to fail due to a midnight deadline for passing legislation. After the Governor called a special session that included the same legislation, Democratic members fled the state on the 12th of July 2021 to block the passage of a bill.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Eltohamy|first=Farah|date=2021-07-14|title=What it means to break quorum and what you need to know about the Texas House Democrats' dramatic departure|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/14/texas-democrats-walkout-quorum/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}}</ref> At least 51 Democrats – the number needed to break quorum – left the state to [Washington D.C.](/source/Washington_D.C.) via plane in order to lobby federal lawmakers to take up opposing legislation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pollock|first=Alexa Ura and Cassandra|date=2021-07-12|title=Texas House Democrats flee the state in move that could block voting restrictions bill, bring Legislature to a halt|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/07/12/texas-democrats-voting-bill-quorum/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-13 |title=Texas Lawmakers, Dueling 1,300 Miles Apart, Map Out Next Voting Moves (Published 2021) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/us/politics/texas-voting-rights-democrats.html |access-date=2025-08-05 |language=en}}</ref> On 10 August 2021 the Texas House Speaker [Dade Phelan](/source/Dade_Phelan) authorized arrest warrants for the legislators breaking quorum.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Goldenstein|first=Taylor|date=2021-08-10|title=Texas House authorizes arrests of no-show Democratic lawmakers|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Texas-House-authorizes-arrests-of-no-show-16378263.php|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US}}</ref> After 38 days quorum was regained when three Democrats, [Garnet Coleman](/source/Garnet_Coleman), [Armando Walle](/source/Armando_Walle) and [Ana Hernandez](/source/Ana_Hernandez) returned, though with Coleman providing quorum from home due to serious illness and Republican [Steve Allison](/source/Steve_Allison) isolating in a side room of the chamber due to contracting [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barragán|first=James|date=2021-08-19|title=After a nearly six-week exodus over GOP voting bill, enough Democrats return to Texas House to resume work|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/18/texas-house-democrats-quorum/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}}</ref>

After the 2021 quorum breaks, the House adopted rule changes in order to place fines on members who break quorum.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Representatives |first=Texas House of |title=Texas House of Representatives |url=http://house.texas.gov/resources/house-rules |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=Texas House of Representatives |language=en}}</ref>

Texas Democratic members of the State House of Representatives launched another walkout on August 4, 2025, due to [mid-decade redistricting](/source/2025_Texas_redistricting).<ref>https://amp.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article311571908.html</ref> Texas House Speaker [Dustin Burrows](/source/Dustin_Burrows) issued civil warrants to try and secure their return.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klibanoff |first=By Eleanor |date=2025-08-04 |title=Texas House issues arrest warrants for Democrats who left state to block congressional redistricting |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/texas-democrats-house-warrants-arrest-quorum-break/ |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref> The break ended on August 18, after a new special session was called and other states pledged to also participate in the redistricting effort in order to offset any partisan gains.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guo |first=By Kayla |date=2025-08-15 |title=Abbott calls second special session as first round ends with Democrats still out of state |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/15/texas-abbott-second-special-session-legislature-redistricting-flooding/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Guo |first=By Kayla |date=2025-08-18 |title=Texas House Democrats return to Capitol, ending walkout over redistricting plan |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-democrats-return-redistricting-map-illinois/ |access-date=2025-08-20 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref> Once the members returned, the House of Representatives changed the rules to increase the penalties incurred in order to discourage future quorum busting attempts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Downey |first=By Alejandro Serrano and Renzo |date=2025-09-02 |title=Texas Legislature approves stiff penalties, fundraising limits for lawmakers who leave state to block bills |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/02/texas-house-quorum-break-punishments-political-fundraising/ |access-date=2025-09-12 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

====Wisconsin (2011)====
During the [2011 Wisconsin protests](/source/2011_Wisconsin_protests), fourteen Democratic members of the [Wisconsin Senate](/source/Wisconsin_Senate) went to Illinois in order to break the necessary 20-member quorum. This was done in order to prevent a vote on [right-to-work](/source/Right-to-work_law) legislation. The legislature issued warrants to attempt to secure the members' arrests, but traveling out of the state placed these legislators beyond the jurisdiction of state troopers who could compel them to return to the chamber.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Journal |first=MARY SPICUZZA and DEE J. HALL {{!}} Wisconsin State |date=2011-03-04 |title=Senate orders arrest of missing Democrats |url=https://madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_8d9ad090-45bd-11e0-bf68-001cc4c03286.html |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=Wisconsin State Journal |language=en}}</ref> After a month, the Republican leadership of the Senate stripped certain portions from the bill that lowered the quorum threshold required to pass the bill. The absent members returned a few days after the amended bill passed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democratic senators return to Madison to tell crowd fight isn't over |url=https://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117862214.html/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250804224006/https://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117862214.html/ |archive-date=4 August 2025 |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=archive.jsonline.com |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Indiana (2011) ====
Inspired by the quorum bust in Wisconsin, 37 Democrats in the [Indiana House of Representatives](/source/Indiana_House_of_Representatives) followed suit in order to block their own proposed union-related legislation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-02-23 |title=Democratic lawmakers leave Indiana, block labor bill |url=https://www.ibj.com/articles/25475-democratic-lawmakers-leave-indiana-block-labor-bill |access-date=2025-08-30 |website=Indianapolis Business Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>  These members also left the state to Illinois in order to prevent being returned against their will. After about six weeks of negotiations, the members returned after a deal was reached with [Speaker of the House](/source/List_of_speakers_of_the_Indiana_House_of_Representatives) [Brian Bosma](/source/Brian_Bosma) which removed some of the contentious bills from the [legislative calendar](/source/legislative_calendar).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maher |first=Douglas Belkin And Kris |date=2011-03-28 |title=Indiana House Democrats End Walkout |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704559904576228892323773986 |access-date=2025-08-30 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

====Oregon (2001, 2019–2023)====
In 2001, [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_of_Oregon) members of the [House of Representatives](/source/Oregon_House_of_Representatives) staged a five-day walkout over [redistricting](/source/redistricting). Then-Representative [Mark Hass](/source/Mark_Hass) participated in the walkout and later noted that although the tactic worked, Democrats "got beaten up pretty hard."<ref>{{cite news |last1=VanderHart |first1=Dirk |title=Oregon Republicans No-Show At Vote On $2 Billion Tax, Shutting Senate Down |url=https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-republican-senate-shutdown-education-funding-vote/ |access-date=3 October 2023 |work=[OPB](/source/Oregon_Public_Broadcasting) |date=7 May 2019}}</ref>

Beginning in May 2019, [Republican](/source/Oregon_Republican_Party) state senators in [Oregon](/source/Oregon) made a [series of walkouts](/source/2019_Oregon_Senate_Republican_walkouts) in opposition to an [emissions trading bill](/source/Oregon_House_Bill_2020). On 20 June 2019, Gov. [Kate Brown](/source/Kate_Brown) authorized the [Oregon State Police](/source/Oregon_State_Police) to bring back the senators, who had left the [Oregon State Capitol](/source/Oregon_State_Capitol) to bust the needed quorum. State Sen. [Brian Boquist](/source/Brian_Boquist) said that he told the state police superintendent to "send bachelors and come heavily armed. I'm not going to be a political prisoner in the state of Oregon. It's just that simple."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/449583-oregon-gov-allows-state-police-to-bring-republican-lawmakers-back-to |work=The Hill |title=Oregon governor authorizes state police to bring GOP lawmakers back to capital for climate vote |date=20 June 2019 |first=Tal |last=Axelrod}}</ref>

In 2022, Oregon voters approved [Measure 113](/source/Oregon_Ballot_Measure_113) which disqualified members who were absent unexcused for more than 10 legislative days from running for reelection. During the 2023 legislative session, there was another walkout by the Republican state senators which led to the disqualification of 10 members.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oregonian/OregonLive |first=Grant Stringer {{!}} The |date=2023-05-20 |title=Bucking new law, 10 Oregon senators disqualified from reelection with boycott |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2023/05/bucking-new-law-10-oregon-senators-disqualified-from-reelection-with-boycott.html |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}</ref> Their disqualification was later upheld by the [State Supreme Court](/source/Oregon_Supreme_Court) in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-01 |title=Oregon Supreme Court upholds Measure 113, disqualifies Republican senators who walked out last year |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/politics/elections/oregon-supreme-court-upholds-measure-113-disqualifies-republicans-senators/283-4e52616d-e8aa-4dc5-bf5c-56ca8f773c0b |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=kgw.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Germany (2012) ====
On June 15, 2012, opposition members of the Bundestag boycotted a procedural vote to delay the first reading of a controversial childcare subsidy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-06-06 |title=German Lawmakers Spar Over Child Care Subsidy (Published 2012) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/07/world/europe/german-lawmakers-spar-over-child-care-subsidy.html |access-date=2025-08-12 |language=en}}</ref> When the vote was completed, the roll showed that only 211 members were present in the chamber, 100 short of the quorum threshold. Due to the lack of quorum, Bundestag [Vice President](/source/Presidium_of_the_Bundestag) [Petra Pau](/source/Petra_Pau) ended the legislative session about 3 hours earlier than expected. Members of the government criticized the event as an "affront" and "unprecedented". They condemned the opposition members who participated for engaging in "dirty tricks" to delay the vote.<ref name=":5" />

==== Hong Kong (2005, 2010, 2012, 2015) ====
In 2005, when some [pro-democracy members](/source/Pro-democracy_camp_in_Hong_Kong) of the council paid a silent tribute to late leader of the People's Republic of China, [Zhao Ziyang](/source/Zhao_Ziyang), against the Rules of Procedure, the [president of the council](/source/President_of_the_Legislative_Council_of_Hong_Kong) suspended the meeting. When the meeting was recalled, [pro-Beijing members](/source/Pro-Beijing_camp) refused to return to the chamber, forcing the meeting to be adjourned.

On 27 January 2010, when five pro-democracy members were intending to make their resignation speeches, pro-Beijing members of the council left the chamber as a sign of protest. One of the pro-Beijing members nevertheless stayed in the chamber to call for the quorum to be counted, effectively forcing the meeting to be adjourned. The resignation was intended as a [''de facto'' referendum](/source/2010_Hong_Kong_by-election) across all five [geographical constituencies](/source/Geographical_constituency) of the territory, involving the entire electorate, which would not be officially recognised anyway. Most other factions, although against the move by these five Members, stayed in the chamber.

On 2 May 2012, when the LegCo was debating a law change to bar resigning legislators to participate in by-elections in 6 months, effectively discouraging any more "de facto" referendums, some of the five pro-democracy members who resigned constantly issued quorum calls, especially when they were making their resignation speeches intended for 2 years before. In the nine-hour meeting, 23 quorum calls were issued, taking up to 3 hours. When LegCo reconvened on 3 May, it was adjourned for lack of quorum amid a boycott by the pan-democrats. The pro-government members drew a timetable to ensure a quorum, but it failed to prevent another lack of quorum.

On 18 June 2015, when the LegCo was due to vote on a [resolution to amend the provisions for the election of the territory's Chief Executive](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_Hong_Kong_electoral_reform), pro-Beijing members left the chamber to force a quorum roll call to make sure that a sick member could be able to rush back to the chamber. However some of the members stayed behind, citing miscommunication, and the division proceeded with two members above the required quorum of 35. While the resolution was originally predicted to be narrowly defeated due to not able to get super-majority support votes, it turned out to be a landslide defeat.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 June 2015 |title=One Sick Lawmaker Makes Vote on Hong Kong Democracy a Landslide |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-18/one-sick-lawmaker-makes-vote-on-hong-kong-democracy-a-landslide |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711085549/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-18/one-sick-lawmaker-makes-vote-on-hong-kong-democracy-a-landslide |archive-date=11 July 2016 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |df=dmy-all |via=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref>

Quorum-busting and attempts to thwart it are also a common feature during the annual motion debate related to the [1989 Tiananmen massacre](/source/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989) moved by pro-democracy Members. The quorum is called to be counted from time to time by the pan-democrats, in order to force the pro-Beijing camp to keep some members in the chamber.

====Pakistan (2024)====

On August 27, 2024, [independent](/source/Independent_politician) member Vehari Aurangzeb Khichi raised a point of order to a lack of quorum within the chamber. The [Deputy Speaker](/source/Deputy_Speaker_of_the_National_Assembly_of_Pakistan) Ghulam Mustafa Shah ordered a roll call and confirmed the lack of quorum. Shah adjourned the assembly for three days. This adjournment delayed the introduction of multiple bills affecting the judiciary, including a constitutional amendment relating to the [suo motu](/source/Sua_sponte) powers of the [Pakistan Supreme Court](/source/Supreme_Court_of_Pakistan).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wasim |first=Amir |date=2024-08-28 |title=Quorum hits NA proceedings as ministers stay away |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1855197 |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>

==== Philippines (2010 and 2026) ====
On February 2, 2010, [Antonio Cerilles](/source/Antonio_Cerilles) called for a roll call after a debate with Mariano Piamonte Jr. over the length of a floor speech. The subsequent roll call showed only 95 of the 134 needed members present. This caused the [House of Representatives](/source/House_of_Representatives_of_the_Philippines) to adjourn which subsequently delayed the swearing in of members-elect Celestino Martinez III and Domingo Espina.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diaz |first=Jess |title=No quorum again at House of Representatives |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2010/02/03/545942/no-quorum-again-house-representatives |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Philstar.com}}</ref>

On, May 26, 2026, the 24-seat [Senate](/source/Senate_of_the_Philippines) was split into a 13-member majority and 11-member minority. The majority bloc moved on to approve Senator [Rodante Marcoleta](/source/Rodante_Marcoleta)'s 15-day old proposal to amend the legislature rules to enable members of to attend remotely under "justifiable reasons". The minority bloc accused the other side of railroading the amendments. The eleven-member group staged a walk-out.<ref name=":7">{{cite news |last1=Clores |first1=Keith |title=Clash on Senate online voting ends in walkout |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2235027/clash-on-senate-online-voting-ends-in-walkout |access-date=27 May 2026 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=27 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Servallos |first1=Neil Jayson |last2=Cayabyab |first2=Marc Jayson |title=Remote vote sparks walkout by ‘SB-11’ |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/05/27/2530834/remote-vote-sparks-walkout-sb-11 |access-date=27 May 2026 |work=The Philippine Star |date=27 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref> Quorum was broken since it requires 13 out of 24 members of the Senate to be present. The majority bloc was left with 12 members physically present due to the absence of Senator [Bato dela Rosa](/source/Bato_dela_Rosa).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Daguno-Bersamina |first1=Kristine |title=Quorum explained: Why Senate can't act without enough members on the floor |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/05/27/2530904/quorum-explained-why-senate-cant-act-without-enough-members-floor |access-date=27 May 2026 |work=The Philippine Star |date=27 May 2026}}</ref> The amendment was for dela Rosa who is evading arrest on an arrest warrant from the [International Criminal Court](/source/International_Criminal_Court).<ref name=":7" />

===Disappearing quorum===
<!--Note that [Disappearing quorum](/source/Disappearing_quorum) redirects here-->
A tactic similar to quorum busting, is that of a '''disappearing quorum.'''  In this situation, members of the legislative body refuse to vote or register although they are physically present on the floor of the chamber. The method was a popular strategy used by the minority party in the United States House of Representatives to block votes from 1842 (when a speaking time limit was introduced) until 1890. It was seen as the lower chamber's analogous companion to the [filibuster](/source/filibuster) in the United States Senate. The practice was made obsolete on January 29, 1890, in what has popularly been called the "Battle of the Reed Rules,"<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Buonomo |first=Giampiero |date=2001-01-01 |title=Il "quorum muto" nel diritto parlamentare |url=https://www.academia.edu/2420603 |journal=Rassegna Parlamentare (In Italian)}}</ref> when [Speaker](/source/Speaker_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives) [Thomas Brackett Reed](/source/Thomas_Brackett_Reed) ordered that members who were present on the floor would count for the purpose of a quorum, even if they did not reply to the roll call.<ref>{{Cite web|title = A Pre-Twentieth Century Look at the House Committee on Rules, The Reed Rules|url = http://archives.democrats.rules.house.gov/archives/pre20th_rules.htm|website = archives.democrats.rules.house.gov|access-date = 27 January 2016|publisher = The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules|date = December 1998|last = Oleszek|first = Walter J.|url-status = live|archive-url = http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20160127191820/http://archives.democrats.rules.house.gov/archives/pre20th_rules.htm|archive-date = 27 January 2016|df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/18/the-history-and-lessons-of-congressional-crises/congressional-rules-remembered-and-forgotten|title=The History and Lessons of Congressional Crises|work=The New York Times|access-date=27 March 2017|issn=0362-4331|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328105140/http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/18/the-history-and-lessons-of-congressional-crises/congressional-rules-remembered-and-forgotten|archive-date=28 March 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/01/house-quorum-rule-changed-jan-29-1890-018113|title=House quorum rule changed, Jan. 29, 1890|work=POLITICO|access-date=27 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328195532/http://www.politico.com/story/2009/01/house-quorum-rule-changed-jan-29-1890-018113|archive-date=28 March 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The changes were permanently adopted into the House Rules in 1894. Many other legislative bodies have adopted similar rules to empower the Speaker of the chamber to show a member as present even if they refuse to answer the roll call.

==See also==
*[Abstentionism](/source/Abstentionism) – political practice by which duly elected members of a legislature refuse to take up the seats won in an election
*[Minyan](/source/Minyan) – the quorum of 10 Jews (traditionally, male adults, [above the age of 13](/source/Bar_and_Bat_Mitzvah)) necessary for [Jewish communal prayer](/source/List_of_Jewish_prayers_and_blessings) to be conducted
*[Quorum call](/source/Quorum_call)

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|quorum}}
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Quorum|volume=22|short=x}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/96-452.pdf|title=Voting and Quorum Procedures|publisher=U.S. Senate}}
{{Parliamentary Procedure}}

Category:Quorum
Category:Political terminology
Category:Parliamentary procedure
Category:Majority

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Quorum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quorum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quorum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.