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Majority & super-majority vote: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "Majority v. Super-majority vote == Simple majority == * over 50% = majority * = the vote "threshold" for a democratic body (usually a legislature) to make a decision * the U....")
 
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== Simple majority ==
== Simple majority ==
* over 50% = majority
* over 50% = majority
** known as a "simple majority"
* = the vote "threshold" for a democratic body (usually a legislature) to make a decision
* = the vote "threshold" for a democratic body (usually a legislature) to make a decision
* the U.S. House of Representatives operates on a simple majority vote
* the U.S. House of Representatives operates on a simple majority vote


== Super majority ==  
== Super majority ==  
* = higher than the usual 50%+ requirement for decisions in a democratic body
* usually 2/3rds or 3/4th  
* usually 2/3rds or 3/4th  
* super-majorities require a larger consensus (general agreement) and are therefore important constraints against the power of a simple majority
** likewise, super-majorities empower a minority, generally to be able to block votes or laws that a simple majority would otherwise enact
* may also include a single vote having veto power
* may also include a single vote having veto power
* examples include:  
** examples include:  
=== U.S. Articles of Confederation ===
=== U.S. Articles of Confederation ===
=== Polish-Lithuanian Republic ===
=== Polish-Lithuanian Republic ===