A quorum is the minimum attendance necessary for the Senate (and the House of Representatives) to conduct business. In the Senate, the necessary number is 51 Senators. Rarely are 51 Senators present on the Senate floor. However, a quorum is assumed to be met, unless a Senator suggests that less than 51 members are present.
* Did you know that during the first Congress, the Senate and the House did not achieve a quorum for more than a month?
To delay action in the Senate, members use a Quorum Call to suspend floor activity. During a quorum call, the clerk slowly calls the roll, though senators do not have to respond.
