Making laws
quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present for a chamber to do business: a majority, 218 in a full House and 51 in a full Senate.
In full
The Constitution sets the quorum for each chamber at a majority of its members. In practice both chambers usually operate with far fewer members physically present, on the presumption a quorum exists unless a member forces a count with a quorum call. Quorum calls in the Senate double as a polite way to pause the floor while negotiations happen off it.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.