Article 1, Section 5, Paragraph 1
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; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Compulsory Attendance
All members should vote and state their conscience.
There is a second thing that a minority of members may do. It is to compel all members to appear. They may order the full house to meet in order to vote on a bill. Of course this may raise the ire of the members against the bill, but it enables emergency legislation to be considered.
Attendance is very important for representation to work. Our Lord Jesus is our advocate and has seated Himself beside the throne of God.
Hebrews 1:3, "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
Moses was challenged to be a representative of the people to God and then to teach the people God’s ways and laws.
Exodus 18:19-20, "Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do."
In Nehemiah, we find a person who was always present to represent the people in the decisions of the king.
Nehemiah 11:24, "And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people."
When our representatives do not bother to show up for meetings, they are shirking their responsibility and showing a disdain for the job we have asked them to do.
The other major problem is that laws are not being challenged by all the elements of the country. Each member should know who they represent, and understand what is best for the people of the district. Their votes should indicate fervency, diligence, and vigilance.
The Constitution allows for penalties for absenteeism, and the use of whatever measures the Houses chooses to control it.
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