Legal Definitions - absolute majority

An absolute majority refers to more than half of all eligible votes or members within a defined group, regardless of whether every member is present or chooses to vote. This threshold requires support from the majority of the entire group, not just the majority of those who participate in a particular decision or election.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Corporate Board Decision: Imagine a company's board of directors has 12 members. For a critical decision, such as approving a merger, the company bylaws might require an absolute majority. This means at least 7 directors (more than half of 12) must vote in favor, even if only 9 directors attend the meeting and cast their votes. If only 6 of the 9 present directors vote yes, the motion would fail because it didn't reach the absolute majority of 7.

  This example illustrates that the calculation is based on the total number of board members, not just those present or voting.

• Legislative Body Vote: A state legislature has 100 representatives. To override a governor's veto, the state constitution might require an absolute majority of the entire house. This means at least 51 representatives must vote to override the veto, even if only 80 representatives are present and voting on that particular day. If 45 of the 80 present representatives vote to override, the veto would stand because it did not achieve the absolute majority of 51 votes from the total membership.

  This example demonstrates how an absolute majority can be a higher bar for significant actions, ensuring broader consensus from the entire body.

• Community Association Election: A homeowners' association has 200 registered members. To amend the association's governing documents, the bylaws stipulate that an absolute majority of the entire membership is required. This means at least 101 members must vote in favor of the amendment. If only 150 members participate in the vote, and 90 of them vote yes, the amendment would not pass because it did not reach the absolute majority of 101 members from the total association membership.

  This example highlights that an absolute majority ensures that fundamental changes have widespread support across the entire membership, not just among those who actively participate in a specific vote.