[106th Congress House Rules Manual -- House Document No. 106-320]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office Online Database]
[DOCID:hrulest-12]

[Page 143-144]

                             sec. vi--quorum

* * * * *
  In <> general the chair is not to be taken till a quorum for
business is present; unless, after due waiting, such a quorum be
despaired of, when the chair may be taken and the House adjourned. And
whenever, during business, it is observed that a quorum is not present,
any member may call for the House to be counted, and being found
deficient, business is suspended. 2 Hats., 125, 126.

  In the House the Speaker takes the Chair at the hour to which the
House stood adjourned and there is no requirement that the House proceed

[[Page 144]]

immediately to establish a quorum, although the Speaker has the
authority under clause 7 of rule XX to recognize for a call of the House
at any time. The question of a quorum is not considered unless properly
raised (IV, 2733; VI, 624), and it is not in order for the Speaker to
recognize for a point of no quorum unless he has put the pending
question or proposition to a vote. While it was formerly the rule that a
quorum was necessary for debate as well as business (IV, 2935-2949),
under the procedure put in effect in the 95th Congress such is not the
case. In the 94th Congress the House by rule restricted the Chair's
ability to recognize the absence of a quorum (clause 7 of rule XX).