Isabella Carter
A majority vote is when a proposition is selected by most voters from a set of alternatives. This is usually more than half of the votes cast. A supermajority vote, on the other hand, is a proposal that gains a specified level of support greater than a simple majority. Supermajority votes are usually reserved for significant matters, such as amending bylaws, and are often used to protect the rights of a minority group. Supermajority percentages vary but common thresholds include three-fifths (60%), two-thirds (66.67%), or three-quarters (75%).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Supermajority vote definition | A unique voting requirement where a proposal or motion must receive more than a simple majority of votes to pass |
| Simple majority vote definition | A requirement that more than half (50% + 1 or 51%) of members must agree to make a decision |
| Percentage required for supermajority vote | Any percentage greater than one-half (50% + 1). Common thresholds include 60% (three-fifths), 66.666...% (two-thirds), and 75% (three-fourths) |
| Use cases | Impeaching a president, amending bylaws or constitutions, mergers and acquisitions, taxation laws, etc. |
| Pros | Ensures decisions have widespread support, fosters broader consensus, enhances legitimacy of outcome, prevents rash decision-making |
| Cons | Can be difficult to achieve, may delay decision-making, can lead to impasse or gridlock |
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What You'll Learn
Two-thirds majority
A two-thirds majority vote is a voting system that requires at least 66.666...% of the total votes cast to approve a particular motion or decision. This is equivalent to the number of votes in favour being at least twice the number of votes against. This voting basis can be qualified to include either the entire voting body or just the board members voting on a specific issue.
A two-thirds majority is a common supermajoritarian requirement in elections, especially when minority rights can be affected. There are two types of two-thirds majority: simple and absolute. A simple two-thirds majority means that two-thirds of the votes cast must be in favour of a proposition. An absolute two-thirds majority means that two-thirds of the entire membership of a body or more must agree to the proposition.
The two-thirds majority rule is often used when voting on major initiatives, as it requires a broad level of consensus and ensures that major changes are supported by a substantial majority of members. It encourages organisations to find consensus and collaborate in good faith. However, it can also slow down the decision-making process and give minority groups an outsized amount of power.
The two-thirds majority rule has been used in various contexts throughout history. For example, in ancient Rome, two-thirds of jurors had to confirm they were ready to take a decision before the matter went to a simple majority vote. In Italy between 1948 and 1993, a two-thirds majority vote was required to elect senators in single-seat constituencies. In the US, a two-thirds majority is required in both the House and Senate to amend the Constitution.
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Three-fifths majority
A supermajority is a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level of support that is greater than the threshold of one-half used for a simple majority. Supermajority rules in a democracy can help prevent a majority from eroding the fundamental rights of a minority.
A three-fifths majority (60%) is a type of supermajority. In the US, a three-fifths supermajority vote is required to end a filibuster in the Senate. In Poland, the Sejm (lower house of the bicameral parliament) requires a three-fifths majority of MPs to overturn a veto from the President of Poland. In South Korea, a three-fifths majority of legislators is required for a bill to be put to a vote in the National Assembly in order to prevent the ruling party from passing laws without the support of the opposition parties.
In Spain, a three-fifths majority in both the Congress of Deputies and the Senate is needed to pass a constitutional reform. However, if a two-thirds majority is reached in the Congress of Deputies, an absolute majority of senators is enough to pass the proposal. Members of the General Council of the Judiciary and the Constitutional Court are appointed by both the Congress of Deputies and the Senate of Spain, and each appointment requires a three-fifths majority.
In the US, most measures considered by the US Congress as part of the legislative process require only a simple majority vote for passage. However, some actions, like impeaching the president or amending the Constitution, are considered so important that they require a supermajority vote.
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Three-quarters majority
A three-quarters majority is a type of supermajority vote. A supermajority vote is any fraction or percentage greater than one-half (50%) of votes. A majority vote, on the other hand, is more than half the votes cast.
A three-quarters majority is 75% of votes. This means that 75% or more of the votes cast are in the affirmative. In some cases, a three-quarters majority is required for certain actions to be taken. For example, in the United States, a three-quarters supermajority of state legislatures is required for the final adoption of any constitutional amendment. In the case of the Montenegrin independence referendum in 2006, a supermajority of 55% of votes cast in favour was required for independence to be proposed.
In some countries, a three-quarters majority is required to amend the constitution. In the US, for instance, amendments to the constitution may be proposed by a two-thirds supermajority vote of each body of Congress, or a convention called by Congress on application of two-thirds of the states. Once proposed, the amendment must be ratified by three-quarters of the states. Similarly, in India, a supermajority of two-thirds of members present and voting in each house of the Indian Parliament is required to amend the constitution, subject to a majority of the total membership of each House of Parliament.
In other cases, a three-quarters majority is required to propose an amendment to the constitution, which is then submitted to the people for ratification by a majority vote in a plebiscite.
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Absolute majority
An absolute majority is a situation in which one person, party, or group has more than half of the votes, or more than 50%. This is also referred to as a simple majority.
In the European Parliament, for example, an absolute majority is required to amend or reject proposed legislation. In the US, a simple majority is required to pass any type of ballot initiative measure, while a supermajority is needed for more significant actions, such as impeaching the president or amending the Constitution.
A supermajority is any fraction or percentage greater than one-half (50%). Common supermajorities include three-fifths (60%), two-thirds (66.666...%), and three-quarters (75%). In some cases, a supermajority is required to prevent a "tyranny of the majority" and to encourage careful deliberation and compromise.
A two-thirds majority is a common supermajoritarian requirement, especially when minority rights may be affected. There are two types of two-thirds majorities: simple and absolute. A simple two-thirds majority means the votes for a proposition must equal or exceed twice the votes against it. An absolute two-thirds majority means that two-thirds of the entire membership of a body or more must agree to the proposition.
In some cases, an absolute majority is required for a candidate or party to be elected. For example, in Germany, if no absolute majority is reached, a candidate can still be elected without one. In other cases, an absolute majority is required to pass new constitutional amendments, as in Colorado, where a 55% majority is now required.
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Simple majority
A simple majority is any percentage of votes above 50% or one-half. It is the most common way to make decisions in democratic institutions. In an assembly of 100 members, a simple majority is at least 51 members. The rule is important in a representative democracy because laws need majority support to be created, and it necessitates a compromise between different political opinions.
In the US political system, the House of Representatives makes decisions by simple majority. However, supermajorities are common in the Senate, where 60 votes out of 100 are often needed to adopt most legislation due to the use of the routine filibuster. Appointments and finance bills are decided by a simple majority.
In most states, only a simple majority vote is required to pass any type of ballot initiative measure. By contrast, in almost all states, a supermajority vote of the state legislature is necessary to send a measure to amend the US Constitution to the voters for ratification.
Simple majorities are also used in corporate settings. Corporate decisions that usually require a supermajority include mergers and acquisitions, executive changes, and taking a company public. A simple majority, on the other hand, is usually required for the declaration of dividends, which the Board of Directors of a company decides on independently.
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Frequently asked questions
A majority vote is when a proposition is selected by the majority of voters from a set of alternatives. In a majority vote, candidates with the most votes in a constituency can enter Parliament. A majority vote is also referred to as a simple majority vote, which means more "yes" votes than "no" votes.
A supermajority vote is a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level of support that is greater than the threshold of one-half used for a simple majority. A supermajority vote can be specified as any fraction or percentage greater than 50%.
Common supermajorities include three-fifths (60%), two-thirds (66.666...%), and three-quarters (75%). In the US Congress, several legislative actions require a supermajority vote, such as impeaching the president, amending the Constitution, and declaring a president incapable of serving under the 25th Amendment.
A relative majority means that a candidate has to obtain the most votes, or more votes than any other candidate, but not necessarily more than half of the votes cast. On the other hand, an absolute majority requires a candidate to obtain more than half of the votes cast, typically 50% plus 1 vote.
