# "2/3 of the Senate" - votes cast, or merely votes "present?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-3-of-the-senate-votes-cast-or-merely-votes-present/841493>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 8, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-3-of-the-senate-votes-cast-or-merely-votes-present/841493 "2019-10-08T20:02:19Z")\
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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-3-of-the-senate-votes-cast-or-merely-votes-present/841493/15 "2019-10-09T17:31:08Z")

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Those talking about absent members, it is illegal for a congress member to not attend a session without permission of the presiding officer and can compel absent members to attend. I doubt Roberts would excuse any Senator except under dire circumstances.

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