Constitution Section 100 — Voting in Houses, power of Houses to act notwithstanding vacancies and quorum
Part V — THE UNION — Conduct of Business
Constitutional
Summary
Decisions in either House of Parliament or in a joint sitting of both Houses are made by a majority vote of the members who are present and voting. The person presiding over the meeting does not vote initially, but can cast a deciding vote if the votes are tied. Each House can continue to function even if some seats are empty, and any proceedings remain valid even if it is later found that someone who was not entitled to be there took part. At least one-tenth of the total members of a House must be present for a meeting to proceed; if this number is not met, the person presiding must either adjourn the meeting or pause it until enough members are present.
Official Text
(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, all questions at any sitting of either House or joint sitting of the Houses shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting, other than the Speaker or person acting as Chairman or Speaker.The Chairman or Speaker, or person acting as such, shall not vote in the first instance, but shall have and exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes.
(2) Either House of Parliament shall have power to act notwithstanding any vacancy in the membership thereof, and any proceedings in Parliament shall be valid notwithstanding that it is discovered subsequently that some person who was not entitled so to do sat or voted or otherwise took part in the proceedings.
(3) Until Parliament by law otherwise provides, the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament shall be one-tenth of the total number of members of the House.
(4) If at any time during a meeting of a House there is no quorum, it shall be the duty of the Chairman or Speaker, or person acting as such, either to adjourn the House or to suspend the meeting until there is a quorum.