Page:Robert's Parliamentary Practice.djvu/144



Quorum. The quorum of an assembly is such a number as must be present in order that business may be legally transacted. If there is no rule on the subject, the majority of the membership, including absentees, of a convention, society, board, or committee, constitutes a quorum. A rule making a different quorum for a convention or society must be in the nature of a by-law, as it binds future sessions and cannot be suspended even by a unanimous vote. The members of a convention at any time are those who have registered up to that time as attending, even though some have left the convention. If it is desired to have a smaller quorum than a majority for a board or standing committee it must be provided for in the by-laws of the parent body. It is impracticable for a majority of the members of an ordinary society to be present at many of the meetings, so it has been found best to authorize a smaller quorum. In large societies the quorum is often less than 10 per cent, of the membership. Rh