A call of the house is a motion that can be adopted by a deliberative assembly. It has the authority to compel the attendance of absent members when a quorum is not present. The effect of the adoption of this motion is that the president of the assembly makes out arrest warrants that authorize the sergeant-at-arms to arrest any or all absent members and bring them to the meeting hall so that a quorum may be present. This motion is usually seen in houses of legislatures, such as the United States Senate.
Occurences[]
In the third episode of Season 2, the Senate Democratic Leader delivers this motion. It is passed by the senators present in the Senate Chamber and Vice President Frank Underwood, in his role as President of the Senate, instructs the sergeant-at-arms to compel the attendance of absent senators. Several absent Republican senators, including Senate Majority Leader Hector Mendoza, are arrested and carried into the Senate Chamber by Capitol Police so that a quorum is present.