How can congress pass a bill with only 3 members present?

1 posted on 09/29/2011 3:56:50 PM PDT by RushingWater

To: RushingWater

2 posted on 09/29/2011 3:58:08 PM PDT by GoCards (I am a Hobbit)

To: RushingWater

3 posted on 09/29/2011 3:58:43 PM PDT by Christian Engineer Mass (25ish Cambridge MA grad student. Many conservative Christians my age out there? __ Click my name)

From Twitter profile:
Chad Pergram
@ChadPergram Capitol Hill
Chad Pergram covers Congress for FOX News. He’s won an Edward R. Murrow Award and the Joan Barone Award for his reporting on Capitol Hill.

4 posted on 09/29/2011 3:59:21 PM PDT by RushingWater

Who is Chad Perger?

Chad Berger is the anti-John Galt.

5 posted on 09/29/2011 3:59:35 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Palin is coming, and the Tea Party is coming with her.)

To: Christian Engineer Mass

What was the bill?

As I understand it, a 1 week continuing resolution that keeps the gov't from shutting down. In other words, the House controlled GOP is still too scared to shut the gov't down and not eliminate Obamacare!

6 posted on 09/29/2011 4:02:18 PM PDT by RushingWater

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Chad Berger is the anti-John Galt.

He sure seems to have the scoop first on the DC poop!

7 posted on 09/29/2011 4:03:43 PM PDT by RushingWater

To: RushingWater

Van Hollen is the male crossover of Debbie Whatshername Schultz. All b/s.

8 posted on 09/29/2011 4:05:53 PM PDT by Enough is ENOUGH

To: Enough is ENOUGH

Van Hollen is the male crossover of Debbie Whatshername Schultz. All b/s.

That's even worse. I would expect this from a Pelosi congress, but a GOP controlled one?

9 posted on 09/29/2011 4:10:16 PM PDT by RushingWater

To: RushingWater

They cannot. At least 218 members must be present to make a quorum.

10 posted on 09/29/2011 4:15:30 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Islam is the religion of Satan and Mohammed was his minion.)

To: RushingWater

I think you still need a quorum, don’t you?

11 posted on 09/29/2011 4:17:55 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)

To: RushingWater

how can congress pass a bill with only three members present?

Ah, it had to pass before the rest of the body could see what's in it??

12 posted on 09/29/2011 4:19:07 PM PDT by drypowder

To: RushingWater

A whole lotta deemin’ goin’ on!

13 posted on 09/29/2011 4:28:22 PM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all......)

You stole my thought! :)) As in the past, they just deemed it passed...idiots all, the reason given for this faux vote was so as to not interfere with the Members’ vacation...if they love a vacation so much, let them take a permanent vacation by resigning and let someone who is not afraid to work every day for preservation of the U.S. and it honorable traditions take on the task of fixing this mess...just saying.

14 posted on 09/29/2011 4:33:21 PM PDT by jennings2004 (Sarah Palin: "The bright light at the end of a very dark tunnel!")

To: jennings2004

“it” = “its”

15 posted on 09/29/2011 4:34:53 PM PDT by jennings2004 (Sarah Palin: "The bright light at the end of a very dark tunnel!")

To: RushingWater

This happens more than you might think.

It's also common in the Senate. It has happened with some really offensive treaties in the Senate.

One of the reasons Mike Lee, the TEA Party Republican Senator who replaced Bennett from Utah, moved his family to Washington DC, was so he could be there at the end of the day on Thursday or Friday, right before the Senate adjourns, and say, "I Object!" to anything that they try to sneak by on unanimous consent.

To answer the question, the house is in a "pro forma" session today. The rules are different and a quorum isn't necessarily required. Anyone could have objected to this to stop it. It was a very limited CR until next Thursday I think, to give the House the time to read, debate and pass or amend the Senate Continuing Resolution that will carry through mid November. That's when the Super Committee deadline for action comes up.

16 posted on 09/29/2011 4:41:38 PM PDT by cc2k ( If having an "R" makes you conservative, does walking into a barn make you a horse's (_*_)?)

To: Blood of Tyrants

Only if someone present asks for a quorum call.

And the house does have the ability to pass things by unanimous consent, but other than the schedules, hardly anything ever does — it just takes one member to show up and object.

I believe their rules have something about time periods before you can take a vote like this, to ensure that everybody has a chance to show up and object.

Nobody in the house wanted to object to this bill. Not even Michelle Bachman.

17 posted on 09/29/2011 4:41:51 PM PDT by CharlesWayneCT

To: jennings2004

Well if a Super-Committee can do the work of an entire Congress, and 3 knuckleheads can pass laws, I think it’s time to re-think (and vigorously reinforce) the Constitution of the United States of America. I know it’s SO “1776” but it is time to identify “enemies, both foreign and domestic” and have a re-revolution.

18 posted on 09/29/2011 4:42:35 PM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all......)

To: RushingWater

11:00:00 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:01:07 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:01:19 A.M.		Today's prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
11:02:45 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
11:02:49 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - The Chair designated Mr. Culberson to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:03:20 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 27, 2011 at 10:54 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 2017, with amendments; and that the Senate passed H.R. 2608, with an amendment.
11:04:02 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 27, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 1280; that the Senate passed H.R. 2005, without amendment; that the Senate passed S.J. Res. 22, without amendment; and that the Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 81, without amendment.
11:05:00 A.M.	H.R. 2017	Mr. Culberson asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
11:05:23 A.M.	H.R. 2017	On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.
11:05:24 A.M.	H.R. 2017	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:05:25 A.M.		Mr. Culberson asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, September 29, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2011. Agreed to without objection.
11:06:00 A.M.		Mr. Culberson moved that the House do now adjourn.
11:06:10 A.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
11:06:11 A.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on October 3, 2011.

6 minutes and 11 seconds...

19 posted on 09/29/2011 4:54:04 PM PDT by mrsmith

No, it requires a call from the floor. If there is no object, there is no object. Bill passed. http://www.robertsrules.org/

20 posted on 09/29/2011 4:56:10 PM PDT by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by Perry and his fellow democrats.)

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