6 ms·

"In December 1840, Abraham Lincoln and four other Illinois legislators jumped out of a window in a political maneuver designed to prevent a quorum on a vote tha

"In December 1840, Abraham Lincoln and four other Illinois legislators jumped out of a window in a political maneuver designed to prevent a quorum on a vote that would have eliminated the Illinois State Bank." Imagining something like this happening today is ... difficult, to say the least.

JoeAltmaier 7y ago
It must have been precipitated by something, and I'm guessing someone barred the door. Also a strange move.
SamBam 7y ago
Well, we certainly have had legislators hiding in motels across district lines in recent memory, and sherifs being sent to bring them back.
Spooky23 7y ago
Don't limit your imagination. All sorts of bizarre stuff is done to avoid triggering various parliamentary rules in legislative bodies. For example: https://www.wamc.org/post/nys-assembly-always-session https://www.wamc.org/post/nys-assembly-always-session
wmil 7y ago
I blame aging legislators and the obesity epidemic.
salawat 7y ago
Oregon ended up having State Senators flee across State lines. Even one going so far as to warn law enforcement to send unmarried men without families to try to forcibly collect them. https://kval.com/news/local/oregon-senator-on-governor-sending-police-send-bachelors-and-come-heavily-armed https://kval.com/news/local/oregon-senator-on-governor-sendi... When there is as much on the line as there is in America's legislative system, you will be surprised the shenanigans that ensue. The business of the Congress at one point had to ban the practice of dueling. Not necessarily because it wasn't seen as a way to settle a dispute, but that it happened so often. Kentucky I think is the state that specifically disqualifies legislators based on participation in duels. https://www.sos.ky.gov/admin/land/resources/articles/Documents/CodeDuello.pdf https://www.sos.ky.gov/admin/land/resources/articles/Documen... Robert's Rules of Order are often looked upon those with a darker sense of humor in the same light as the Third-man out rule in hockey. Ruins all the good fights. Though Asia has been known for some doozies. I recall the use of either a chainsaw or fire axe at one point. Ah! Taiwan was it. http://loweringthebar.net/2017/07/brawling-again-in-taiwan.html http://loweringthebar.net/2017/07/brawling-again-in-taiwan.h... South Koreans seem to prefer the legislative Sledgehammer. https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-korea-fight28-2009jan28-story.html https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-korea-fight28-2009jan28-...
- suddensleep 7y ago
  I stand wholly corrected!

JoeAltmaier 7y ago

It must have been precipitated by something, and I'm guessing someone barred the door. Also a strange move.

SamBam 7y ago

Well, we certainly have had legislators hiding in motels across district lines in recent memory, and sherifs being sent to bring them back.

Spooky23 7y ago

Don't limit your imagination. All sorts of bizarre stuff is done to avoid triggering various parliamentary rules in legislative bodies. For example: https://www.wamc.org/post/nys-assembly-always-session https://www.wamc.org/post/nys-assembly-always-session

wmil 7y ago

I blame aging legislators and the obesity epidemic.

salawat 7y ago

Oregon ended up having State Senators flee across State lines. Even one going so far as to warn law enforcement to send unmarried men without families to try to forcibly collect them. https://kval.com/news/local/oregon-senator-on-governor-sending-police-send-bachelors-and-come-heavily-armed https://kval.com/news/local/oregon-senator-on-governor-sendi... When there is as much on the line as there is in America's legislative system, you will be surprised the shenanigans that ensue. The business of the Congress at one point had to ban the practice of dueling. Not necessarily because it wasn't seen as a way to settle a dispute, but that it happened so often. Kentucky I think is the state that specifically disqualifies legislators based on participation in duels. https://www.sos.ky.gov/admin/land/resources/articles/Documents/CodeDuello.pdf https://www.sos.ky.gov/admin/land/resources/articles/Documen... Robert's Rules of Order are often looked upon those with a darker sense of humor in the same light as the Third-man out rule in hockey. Ruins all the good fights. Though Asia has been known for some doozies. I recall the use of either a chainsaw or fire axe at one point. Ah! Taiwan was it. http://loweringthebar.net/2017/07/brawling-again-in-taiwan.html http://loweringthebar.net/2017/07/brawling-again-in-taiwan.h... South Koreans seem to prefer the legislative Sledgehammer. https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-korea-fight28-2009jan28-story.html https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-korea-fight28-2009jan28-...

suddensleep 7y ago
I stand wholly corrected!