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EHocking · 13th January 2021, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by sackett

There were no telegraph or railroads when the Constitution was written, and a senator might be absent for good reason: his horse foundered, or his keelboat grounded on a shoal, or he fell ill with the flux while mud-stuck on the Choctaw Trace.

Nowadays, we have internet, and a senator could cast his vote while on a fact-finding mission in Ouled Nail or Tijuana or Bangkok (love that name, haw haw!), and it would be plumb legit. Dunno if the rules allow that, but why not?

"Present" doesn't have to mean physically there anymore. THIS NOT THE 18TH. *******. CENTURY.

The Senate rules require a senator to be physically present in order to vote.

A quorum is is required for voting - described as a simple majority of elected senators.
A majority of senators not required as a quorum is presumed unless an absence of a quorum is officially tabled.
A fifth of the senate is required to support the tabling for a suggestion of absence of a quorum.

A PDF of the rules as at March 26, 2020
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/96-452

13th January 2021, 11:53 PM	#727
EHocking Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,531	Originally Posted by sackett There were no telegraph or railroads when the Constitution was written, and a senator might be absent for good reason: his horse foundered, or his keelboat grounded on a shoal, or he fell ill with the flux while mud-stuck on the Choctaw Trace. Nowadays, we have internet, and a senator could cast his vote while on a fact-finding mission in Ouled Nail or Tijuana or Bangkok (love that name, haw haw!), and it would be plumb legit. Dunno if the rules allow that, but why not? "Present" doesn't have to mean physically there anymore. THIS NOT THE 18TH. *******. CENTURY. The Senate rules require a senator to be physically present in order to vote. A quorum is is required for voting - described as a simple majority of elected senators. A majority of senators not required as a quorum is presumed unless an absence of a quorum is officially tabled. A fifth of the senate is required to support the tabling for a suggestion of absence of a quorum. A PDF of the rules as at March 26, 2020 https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/96-452
EHocking Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,531	__________________ "A closed mouth gathers no feet" "Ignorance is a renewable resource" P.J.O'Rourke "It's all god's handiwork, there's little quality control applied", Fox26 reporter on Texas granite You can't make up anything anymore. The world itself is a satire. All you're doing is recording it. Art Buchwald Last edited by Agatha; 15th January 2021 at 05:49 AM. Reason: rule 10 in quote