On motion from the Floor, the presiding officer directs the Sergeant-at-Arms to lock the chambers and bring in the absent members (by arrest, if necessary) to vote on a measure under consideration. No action is taken on an item under call until the call is lifted, at which time it must be immediately voted on.
A request that all members of the legislative house be present for action on a pending motion. While a call is on, no member of the legislative body may leave the chamber, and the sergeant-at-arms are requested to bring absent members back to the chamber. A call may be raised by a majority of those members present in the chamber.
A procedure used to compel attendance of members for the consideration of any specific item of legislative business.
A procedureused to compel attendance of members for theconsideration of any specific item of legislativebusiness.
A call of the house is a motion which can be adopted by a deliberative assembly that has the authority to compel the attendance of its members in the absence of a quorum. The effect of the adoption of this motion is that the president of the assembly makes out arrest warrants which authorize the sergeant-at-arms to arrest any or all absent members and bring them to the meeting hall so that a quorum may be present. This motion is usually seen in houses of legislatures, such as the United States House of Representatives, since no normal voluntary associations have coercive power.