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This entry was published on 2014-09-22
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SECTION 2
Quorum
Senate Rules (CMS) CHAPTER , RULE 10
§ 2. Quorum. a. A majority of all the Senators elected shall
constitute a quorum to do business. In case a less number than a quorum
of the Senate shall convene, those present are authorized to send the
Sergeant at Arms, or any other person, for the absent Senators.

b. The assent of two-thirds of the Senators elected shall be requisite
to every bill appropriating the public moneys or property for local or
private purposes, and to the passage of bills returned by the Governor
without his or her approval.

c. On the final passage of any bill which imposes, continues or
revives a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or makes, continues or
revives any appropriation of public or trust money or property, or
releases, discharges or commutes any claim or demand of the State,
three-fifths of all the members elected to the Senate shall be necessary
to constitute a quorum therein.

d. If, on taking the final question on a bill, it shall appear that a
constitutional quorum is not present, or if the bill requires a vote of
two-thirds of all the Senators elected to pass it, and it appears that
such number is not present, the bill shall retain its place on the
Calendar and be again taken up in its regular order.

e. When any bill requiring the concurrence of two-thirds of the
Senators, or a quorum of three-fifths thereof, is under consideration,
such concurrence or quorum, as the case may be, shall not be requisite
except on the question of its final passage.

f. If at any time during the session of the Senate a question shall be
raised by any Senator as to the presence of a quorum, the Presiding
Officer shall forthwith direct the Secretary to call the roll, and shall
announce the result, and such proceeding shall be without debate; but no
Senator while speaking shall be interrupted by any other Senator raising
the question of a lack of a quorum, and the question as to the presence
of a quorum shall not be raised more often than once in every hour
unless the lack of a quorum shall be disclosed upon a roll call of the
ayes and nays.

g. Whenever upon a roll call any Senator who is upon the floor of the
Senate Chamber refuses to make response when his or her name is called,
it shall be the duty of the Presiding Officer, either upon his or her
own motion or upon the suggestion of any Senator, to request the Senator
so remaining silent to respond to his or her name, and if such Senator
fails to do so, the fact of such request and refusal shall be entered in
the journal, and such Senator shall be counted as present for the
purpose of constituting a quorum.