<P> Article I , Section 5 , Clause 1 of the United States Constitution provides that `` Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections , Returns and Qualifications of its own Members , and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business ... '' Therefore , in both the House of Representatives and the Senate a quorum is a simple majority of their respective members . The only exception is that stated in the Twelfth Amendment , which provides that in cases in which no candidate for President of the United States receives a majority in the Electoral College , the election is decided by the House of Representatives , in which case `` a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two - thirds of the states , '' and in cases in which no candidate for Vice President of the United States has been elected , the election is decided by the Senate , in which case `` a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two - thirds of the whole number of Senators . '' </P>
<P> Article I , Section 5 , Clause 1 of the United States Constitution provides that `` Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections , Returns and Qualifications of its own Members , and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business ... '' Therefore , in both the House of Representatives and the Senate a quorum is a simple majority of their respective members . The only exception is that stated in the Twelfth Amendment , which provides that in cases in which no candidate for President of the United States receives a majority in the Electoral College , the election is decided by the House of Representatives , in which case `` a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two - thirds of the states , '' and in cases in which no candidate for Vice President of the United States has been elected , the election is decided by the Senate , in which case `` a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two - thirds of the whole number of Senators . '' </P>
in order for senate or house to vote on a bill how many members must be present
in order for senate or house to vote on a bill how many members must be present
quorum is a simple majority of their respective members
quorum is a simple majority of their respective members