Quorum: People vs Positions

[Guest Tom Johnson]

In determining what is needed for a quorum do I consider how many seats are on a Board, or how many people are in those seats (i.e. The Board consists of 7 positions. Two people have resigned. Is a standard quorum now four because there are seven seats, or three because there are only five Board members left)?  Thank you in advance for your replies.

[Gary Novosielski]

If the default rule in RONR applies, a quorum is a majority of the members of the body.

Members means living breathing persons with the right to vote.  Vacant seats are not members.

[Richard Brown]

To elaborate on the post above by Mr. Novosielski, if a member happens to be serving in more than one capacity, such as the same person serving as both secretary and treasurer, you count heads, not hats.  It doesn't matter matter how many hats a member might wear, he is still only one person and has only one head... and only one vote, unless you have a customized rule to the contrary.

[Hieu H. Huynh]

1 hour ago, Guest Tom Johnson said:

In determining what is needed for a quorum do I consider how many seats are on a Board, or how many people are in those seats (i.e. The Board consists of 7 positions. Two people have resigned. Is a standard quorum now four because there are seven seats, or three because there are only five Board members left)?  Thank you in advance for your replies.

In this case, if the resignations have been accepted, a majority of the board members is three.