Legal Definitions - Quorum

A quorum refers to the minimum number of members who must be present at a meeting of a group or committee for that body to legally conduct business or make official decisions. Without a quorum, any votes taken or actions approved are typically considered invalid and non-binding.

• Homeowners Association (HOA) Meeting: Imagine a neighborhood homeowners association (HOA) needs to vote on a significant increase in monthly dues to fund a new community pool. Their bylaws state that a quorum requires at least 50% of all homeowners to be present at the annual meeting.
  Explanation: If only 30% of homeowners attend the meeting, even if everyone present votes in favor of the new pool and dues increase, the decision cannot be officially adopted. The meeting lacks the necessary quorum, meaning the vote is not legally binding, and the HOA cannot proceed with the pool project based on that meeting's outcome.
• University Faculty Senate: A university's Faculty Senate is tasked with approving major changes to the undergraduate curriculum. The university's governing rules stipulate that a quorum for the Faculty Senate requires two-thirds of its elected members to be in attendance.
  Explanation: If only half of the elected senators are present at the meeting, they can discuss the curriculum changes, but they cannot hold a valid vote to approve or reject them. Any attempt to vote would be ineffective because the minimum number of members required to make an official decision (the quorum) has not been met.
• Non-profit Organization's Board of Directors: The board of directors for a local charity needs to approve its annual budget and elect new officers. Their organizational bylaws specify that a quorum for board meetings is a simple majority of the current board members.
  Explanation: If there are ten board members, at least six must be present for the meeting to have a quorum. If only five members show up, they cannot legally approve the budget or elect new officers, even if they all agree. They might discuss these matters, but no official action can be taken until a sufficient number of board members are present.