Texas Republicans have voted to track down and arrest dozens of Democratic legislators who have fled the state to block passage of a partisan redistricting plan.
The vote passed by 85 to 6, following Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s threat of bribery charges against the absent Democrats.
After the vote, the governor ordered state troopers “to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans”.
How is the vote legitimate if there’s no quorum?
The rules specifically allow for either voting to adjourn and voting to arrest no attending members
Can you share those rules? Especially the part that says “voting to arrest no attending members”
Rule 5. Sec. 8. Securing a Quorum. When a call of the house is moved for one
of the above purposes and seconded by 15 members (of whom the speaker
may be one) and ordered by a majority vote, the main entrance to the hall
and all other doors leading out of the hall shall be locked and no member
permitted to leave the house without the written permission of the speaker.
The names of members present shall be recorded. All absentees for whom
no sufficient excuse is made may, by order of a majority of those present, be
sent for and arrested, wherever they may be found, by the sergeant-at-arms
or an officer appointed by the sergeant-at-arms for that purpose, and their
attendance shall be secured and retained. The house shall determine on
what conditions they shall be discharged. Members who voluntarily appear
shall, unless the house otherwise directs, be immediately admitted to the
hall of the house and shall report their names to the clerk to be entered in
the journal as present.
Until a quorum appears, should the roll call fail to show one present,
no business shall be transacted, except to compel the attendance of absent
members or to adjourn. It shall not be in order to recess under a call of the
house.
Wasn’t that hard to find, even for a foreigner like me.
The exercise was not to find the rules, it was to post them when making reference to them. It’s called “citing your sources”. The intent is to support your position was source material so that the discussion doesn’t need to be sidetracked. Surely even a foreigner like you could figure that out?
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My goal was clearly stated in my reply. Did you read it?