Guest SLopez Posted January 11, 2011 at 05:10 PM Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 at 05:10 PM On a board of commissioners with 5 members, what percentage would constitute a supermajority? One commissioner feels a supermajority simply means anything over 50% which would be equal to 3 votes in favor and 2 against. Would it be proper to say that a supermajority of 5 commissioners would require 4 out of 5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Harrison Posted January 11, 2011 at 05:11 PM Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 at 05:11 PM On a board of commissioners with 5 members, what percentage would constitute a supermajority? One commissioner feels a supermajority simply means anything over 50% which would be equal to 3 votes in favor and 2 against. Would it be proper to say that a supermajority of 5 commissioners would require 4 out of 5?RONR does not define the term so it is up to you all to decide that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim Goldsworthy Posted January 11, 2011 at 06:01 PM Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 at 06:01 PM On a board of commissioners with 5 members, what percentage would constitute a supermajority?Unknown.If you are asking a question about Robert's Rules of Order, then The Book never mentions that term.A supermajority is probably greater than a majority.But that is a DICTIONARY-based opinion, and not a rule from Robert's Rules of Order.One commissioner feels a supermajority simply means anything over 50% which would be equal to 3 votes in favor and 2 against. Impossible.A vote of 3:2 is a majority vote.A majority is not a supermajority.Would it be proper to say that a supermajority of 5 commissioners would require 4 out of 5?Unknown.Is 5 out of 5 a supermajority?Is there a difference between (a.) 4 of 5 vs. (b.) 5 of 5?Are they both supermajorities?Is one a supermajority, and the other something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dan Posted January 11, 2011 at 06:12 PM Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 at 06:12 PM On a board of commissioners with 5 members, what percentage would constitute a supermajority? One commissioner feels a supermajority simply means anything over 50% which would be equal to 3 votes in favor and 2 against. Would it be proper to say that a supermajority of 5 commissioners would require 4 out of 5?Actually a "majority" is over 50%. Exactly 50% is not even a "majority", letalone a "supermajority" (whatever that means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstackpo Posted January 11, 2011 at 08:37 PM Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 at 08:37 PM Sticking to the root meanings of words..."super" means "beyond" or "more than" or the like.So supermajority makes sense as "more than more than half"How much more is up to the association to define. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted January 11, 2011 at 10:31 PM Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 at 10:31 PM On a board of commissioners with 5 members, what percentage would constitute a supermajority? One commissioner feels a supermajority simply means anything over 50% which would be equal to 3 votes in favor and 2 against. Would it be proper to say that a supermajority of 5 commissioners would require 4 out of 5?A majority is more than 50%. A "supermajority" is "more than a majority." The term is not intended to be used on its own, and is merely a descriptive term which applies to any higher voting threshold - 2/3, 3/4, etc. So if you want something to require a "supermajority," you should write in your rules what voting threshold you actually want. If your rules already use the term "supermajority" on its own, good luck interpreting that one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Novosielski Posted January 12, 2011 at 02:14 AM Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 at 02:14 AM The term "supermajority" is not a useful one. Supermajority is just a way of saying that a number less than a majority gets to decide whether a motion can pass or not. It's a nice way of spinning the more accurate term "minority rule".A decision is either made by a majority or it's made by a minority. Unless the rights of a minority of members is being protected, a "supermajority" vote requirement is not appropriate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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