MAJORITY

majority. 1. The status of one who has attained the age of majority (usu. 18). See age of majority under AGE. Cf. MINORITY(1). [Cases: Infants 1.C.J.S. Infants §§ 2–4.] 2. A number that is more than half of a total; a group of more than 50% <the candidate received 50.4% of the votes — barely a majority>. • A majority always refers to more than half of some defined or assumed set. In parliamentary law, that set may be all the members or some subset, such as all

members present or all members voting on a particular question. A “majority” without further qualification usu. means a simple majority. See simple majority. Cf. PLURALITY; MINORITY(2); HALF PLUS ONE.

absolute majority.A majority of all those who are entitled to vote in a particular election, whether or not they actually cast ballots. See QUORUM. [Cases: Elections 126(6), 215. C.J.S.

Elections §§ 114, 118(1).] constitutional majority.See majority of all the members. extraordinary majority.See supermajority.

majority of all the members.A majority of all the actual members, disregarding vacancies. — Also termed constitutional majority; majority of the entire membership; majority of the membership.

majority of all the memberships.A majority of all the possible memberships, including

vacancies. — Also termed majority of the fixed membership.

majority of the entire membership.See majority of all the members. majority of the fixed membership.See majority of all the memberships. majority of the membership.See majority of all the members. ordinary majority.See simple majority. plural majority.See PLURALITY.

simple majority.A majority of the members who vote, a quorum being present, disregarding absent members, members who are present but do not vote, blanks, and abstentions. — Also termed ordinary majority. [Cases: Elections 126(6), 215. C.J.S. Elections §§ 114, 118(1).]

supermajority. A fixed proportion greater than half, such as two-thirds, esp. a percentage required for a measure to pass. • Such a majority is needed for certain extraordinary actions, such as ratifying a constitutional amendment or approving a fundamental corporate change. — Also termed extraordinary majority.

veto-proof majority.A legislative majority large enough that it can override an executive veto.

[Blacks Law 8th]