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296 RULES OF ORDER 639. #39' QUORUM 297 meeting should fix the time for an adjourned meeting and then adjourn. Where an important opportunity would be lost unless acted upon immediately, the members present can, at their own risk, act in the emergency with the hope that their action will be ratified by a later meeting at which a quorum is present. If a committee of the whole funds itself without a quorum, it can do nothing but rise and report to the assembly, which can then proceed as already described, in this paragraph. A quasi committee of the whole or a meeting in informal consideration of a question can itself take any of the four actions permitted an assembly in the absence of a quorum, but a quasi committee of the whole is thereby ended. (See 51.) Manner of Enforcing Quorum Requirement Before the presiding officer -calls a meeting to order, it is his duty to determine, although he need not announce, that a quorum is present. If a quorum is not present, the chair waits until there is one, or until, after a reasonable tines, there appears to be no prospect that a quorum will assem- ble. If a quorum cannot be obtained, the chair calls the meet- ing to order, announces the absence of a quorum, and enter- tains a motion to adjourn or one of the other motions allowed, as described above. When the chair has called a meeting to order after findint that a quorum is present, the continued presence of a quo- rum is presumed unless the chair or a member notices that a quorum is no longer present. If the chair notices the ab- sence of a quorum, it is his duty to declare the fact, at least before taking any vote or stating the question on any new motion—which he can no longer do except in conneetim with the permissible proceedings related to the absence of a quorum, as explained above. Any member noticing the sp-, parent absence of a quorum can make a point of order b that effect at any time so long as he does not interrupt a person who is speaking. Debate on a question already. pending can be allowed to continue at length after a quo- rum is no longer present, however, until a member raises the point. Because of the difficulty likely to be encountered in determining exactly how long the meeting has been without a quorum in such cases, a point of order relating to the absence of a quorum is generally not permitted to affect prior action; but upon clear and convincing proof, such a point of order can be given effect retrospectively by a ruling of the presiding officer, subject to appeal (24) Call of the House In legislative bodies or other assemblies that have legal POW er to compel the attendance of their members, a proce- dure that can be used to obtain a quorum, if necessary, is the motion for a Call of the House. This is a motion that un - excused absent members be brought to the meeting under wrest. A Call of the House is not applicable in voluntary societies. Assemblies in which there may be occasion to order a Call of the House should adopt a rule governing this motion and providing that if one third, one fifth, or some other number less than a majority of the members or members - elect are present, they can order a Call of the House by a majority vote. When a quorum is not present, this motion should take precedence over everything except a motion to Adjourn (21). If the rule allows the call to be moved while a quorum is actually present (for the purpose of. obtaining a greater attendance), the motion at such times should rank y; only with questions of privilege, should require a majority vote for adoption, and, if rejected, should not be allowed to be renewed while a quorum is present. V *What happens to a question that is pending when a meeting adjourns i; ((because of the loss of a quorum or for any other reason) is determined by don, however, was introduced as te rules given page roven that therif such a e waquests already no quorum when it was eww business andd it is p `„lAtrod u&ed, must againube broughtiup as new business considered at a later