[EM] Defining Majority [was: Blake's margins arguments]

[Dave Ketchum]

Makes sense to go to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, of which 10th 
edition is dated 2000 (this is where those who want the official word for 
meeting order go):

A majority is more than half.  If you want something else, such as 50%+1, 
say so.

You also must say what you are counting unless you want the default - 
count those entitled to vote who voted at a time when the issue could 
properly be voted on, but do not include those voting blanks and 
abstentions in the total.

For example, bylaws could state about a serious issue that you count the 
entire membership, whether or not present - gets difficult to pass unless 
most of them vote on the issue.

On Sat, 29 Mar 2003 09:12:26 -0800 Bart Ingles wrote:

>  From Merriam Webster's Collegiate (via Jeeves):
> 
> Main Entry: ma·jor·i·ty
> Date: 1552
> 1 obsolete : the quality or state of being greater
> 2 a : the age at which full civil rights are accorded
>   b : the status of one who has attained this age
> 3 a : a number greater than half of a total
>   b : the excess of a majority over the remainder of the total : MARGIN
>   c : the preponderant quantity or share
> 4   : the group or political party whose votes preponderate
> 5   : the military office, rank, or commission of a major
>                          - majority adjective 
> 
> Also from Merriam Webster:
> Main Entry: majority rule
> Date: 1893
>     : a political principle providing that a majority usually
> constituted by fifty
>       percent plus one of an organized group will have the power to make
>       decisions binding upon the whole 
> 
> 
> Definitions 3c and 4 seem to mean any quantity required to win an
> election.  Also note the relatively recent origin of the phrase
> "majority rule".
> 
> Bart
> 
> 
> Olli Salmi wrote:
> 
>>At 22:10 -0800 24.2.2003, Bart Ingles wrote:
>>
>>>Just to further muddy the waters on the definition of "majority", note
>>>Duverger's use of the term as apparently synonymous with "plurality":
>>>
>>Outside the US (or North America) it's normal to use "majority" or
>>"simple majority" for what Americans call "plurality", and "absolute
>>majority" for "majority".
>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/voting_system/newsid_1173000/1173697.stm
>>
>>I made a short search and it seems that "simple majority" in the US
>>means "more than 50%, as opposed to a 2/3rds majority or some other
>>special majority". In the UK it seems to emphasize "majority of those
>>present and voting, as apposed to a special majority or a majority of
>>all members".
>>
>>"SImple majority" clearly means "absolute majority" in this link from Scotland:
>>http://www.sec.ed.ac.uk/Committees/AcYear/consult/VotingPaper.htm

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   Dave Ketchum    108 Halstead Ave, Owego, NY  13827-1708    607-687-5026
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