Isabella Carter
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group required to validate a meeting or vote. The quorum is usually set by the governing documents of an organization, such as its constitution or bylaws, and it ensures that financial and legal decisions are reviewed and voted on by a certain percentage of members. While the quorum may vary, it is typically defined as a majority of the entire membership, and it is necessary to conduct the business of a deliberative assembly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The minimum number of members of a group necessary to constitute the group at a meeting |
| Determination | Each assembly determines the number of members that constitutes a quorum in its governing documents (e.g. constitution, charter, bylaws, or standing orders) |
| Function | Allow a vote to take place |
| Legislatures and Assemblies | The call of the house procedure may be used to obtain a quorum |
| Example 1 | German Bundestag: more than half of the members (369 out of 736) must be present |
| Example 2 | New Zealand Parliament: no general quorum for the House to conduct business |
| Example 3 | Canada: Constitution Act, 1867 sets quorum for sittings of the House of Commons at 20 MPs |
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What You'll Learn
Quorum definition: minimum number of members for a group to constitute
A quorum refers to the minimum number of members of a group or organization that must be present for official business to be carried out. The quorum is usually set by the organization's bylaws, which are outlined in the group's governing documents, such as its constitution, charter, bylaws, or standing orders. In the absence of a stated definition, a quorum is considered to be a simple majority of the entire membership.
The principle behind a quorum is that a certain number of governing members must be present at a meeting for decisions to be made or laws to be passed. For example, in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Commons has a quorum of 40 MPs, including the Speaker, out of 650 members. In the New Zealand Parliament, there is no general quorum required for the House to conduct business. Previously, a quorum of 15 members out of 99 was required, but this was abolished in 1996.
In some cases, a quorum may be set as a supermajority, meaning more than a simple majority of members is required. For example, the Texas Constitution requires a 2/3 majority in each chamber of the Texas Legislature for a quorum to be present. Similarly, Article 64 of the Italian Constitution prescribes that the quorum for both houses of Parliament is an absolute majority of their membership.
In the context of an 11-out-of-15-member group, a quorum could be considered as 11 members, assuming that the group's bylaws or governing documents define the quorum as a simple majority. However, it is important to note that the specific definition of a quorum can vary depending on the organization's specific rules and guidelines.
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Quorum requirements vary by country
Quorum requirements do indeed vary by country and also by the type of organisation or committee. In general, a quorum is defined as a majority of the entire membership, but this can be determined in different ways.
For example, in Germany, more than half of the members (369 out of 736) of the Bundestag must be present to make resolutions. In Hong Kong, Article 75 of the Basic Law sets a similar requirement, stating that the quorum for the Legislative Council (LegCo) is "not less than one-half of its members".
In Australia, the Constitution sets the quorum for sittings of the House of Representatives and the Senate at one-third of the whole number of MPs and senators, respectively. However, this can be changed by ordinary legislation. As such, the House of Representatives (Quorum) Act 1989 amended the quorum down to one-fifth, so that a quorum of the current House of 151 MPs is 31 MPs.
In Turkey, the quorum requirements are more complex. According to Article 96 of the Turkish Constitution, the Grand National Assembly shall convene with at least one-third of the total number of members (184 out of 550) and shall make decisions by an absolute majority of those present. However, the quorum for decisions can never be less than a quarter plus one of the total members (138 out of 550). Prior to a constitutional referendum in 2007, a quorum of two-thirds was required in the Turkish Parliament.
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Quorum in legislatures and assemblies
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group required to be present at a meeting for the proceedings to be considered valid. In a deliberative assembly, such as a legislature, a quorum is necessary to conduct official business. The quorum principle, requiring a certain number of members of a governing body to be present, is an established practice in parliamentary procedure.
In legislatures and assemblies, the quorum is typically determined by the majority of the entire membership. For example, in the United States Congress, the Constitution Annotated states that "a Majority of each [House] shall constitute a Quorum to do Business". This means that more than half of the members of each House must be present for official proceedings to take place.
However, quorum requirements can vary. In some cases, a supermajority, or more than a simple majority, may be required. For instance, the Texas Constitution requires a 2/3 majority in each chamber of the Texas Legislature for a quorum to be present. On the other hand, in committees and boards, the quorum is usually a majority of the members unless otherwise specified.
It is important to note that quorum-busting, or walkouts, can be used as a tactic to prevent a quorum from being met. This strategy has been employed by minority groups seeking to block the adoption of measures they oppose. For example, during the 2003 Texas redistricting, House Democrats left the state to prevent a quorum and the passage of a controversial bill.
To conclude, the quorum in legislatures and assemblies is typically determined by a majority of the membership, but this can vary depending on the specific rules and procedures of the legislative body in question. Quorum requirements are an important aspect of parliamentary procedure, ensuring that official business can be conducted and decisions made with a sufficient number of members present.
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Determining a quorum in an organization
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group required for the group to conduct official business at a meeting. In a deliberative assembly, such as a legislature, a quorum is necessary for the group to make decisions. The quorum is usually determined by the number of members with decision-making powers in the organization.
To determine a quorum, the first step is to identify the total number of members in the organization who have decision-making authority. Once the number of members with decision-making powers is determined, the next step is to calculate how many people in that group need to agree to have a majority, which is equal to the quorum. For example, if there is a board of 8 members, 5 members would need to agree to have a majority, so the quorum would be 5. This is the best way to determine a quorum if there isn't a specific number already listed in the bylaws.
The quorum may also be set out in the governing documents of an organization, such as its constitution, charter, bylaws, or standing orders. In the absence of such a provision, a quorum is usually considered to be a majority of the entire membership. In legislatures and other assemblies that have the power to compel the attendance of their members, the call of the house procedure may be used to obtain a quorum. This involves the clerk calling the roll of members and then the names of absentees. Members without an excused absence are then brought in, sometimes with a fee.
The quorum is important as it allows a vote to take place. Once the quorum is met, the bylaws mandate what percentage constitutes a passing vote, whether it is a majority or a super-majority.
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Quorum and voting
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group that is necessary for the group to conduct its business during a meeting. In other words, it is the minimum number of voters required for an election to be valid. Quorums are often part of parliamentary procedure.
The quorum number is typically defined by the bylaws, charter, or standing orders of an organization. For example, in the German Bundestag, more than half of the members (369 out of 736) must be present to empower the group to make resolutions. Similarly, Article 64 of the Italian Constitution prescribes that the quorum for both houses of Parliament is an absolute majority of their membership.
In the absence of a specified provision, a quorum is generally considered to be a majority of the entire membership. For example, in the Canadian House of Commons, the quorum is set at 20 MPs out of 338, while the quorum of the Senate is 15. In the New Zealand Parliament, there is no general quorum for the House to conduct business, as the requirement for a quorum of 15 members in a House of 99 members was abolished in 1996.
To determine if a quorum is met, the number of members with decision-making powers is considered, rather than the total membership of an organization. For instance, if an organization has a board of 8 members, a majority of 5 would be needed for a quorum, even if the total membership is higher.
Once a quorum is met, the bylaws or governing documents will specify what percentage constitutes a passing vote, whether it is a simple majority or a super-majority.
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Frequently asked questions
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group necessary to constitute the group at a meeting.
To determine a quorum, start by calculating the number of people in your organization who have decision-making powers. Then, figure out how many people in that group you need to agree to have a majority, which is equal to the quorum.
The function of a quorum is to allow the vote to take place. Once the quorum is met, the bylaws mandate what percentage constitutes a passing vote, be it a majority or super-majority.
Yes, 11 out of 15 members would constitute a quorum.
