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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

super-majority

English answer:

See explanation

Added to glossary by Yongmei Liu
Sep 6, 2003 01:52
21 yrs ago
8 viewers *
English term

super-majority

English Bus/Financial Management
... it permits a super-majority of the Board to amend the City's ethics laws ...

My dictionary says "over 50%," which is basically a simple majority. In another place in this doc., it is said that a two-thirds vote is required.

Did the author misuse the word?

Thanks.
Responses
4 +9 See explanation
4 comment

Discussion

Non-ProZ.com Sep 6, 2003:
So if a simple majority is 50% + 1 votes, then a super majority could be as alow as 50% + 2 votes.

Just a thought.
Non-ProZ.com Sep 6, 2003:
From MS Bookshelf A percentage higher than 50 percent required for approval of a motion or an action determined by vote, as among the shareholders of a company."

Time to chuck it?

And thanks, Mr. M, you always come through.

Responses

+9
16 mins
Selected

See explanation

Apparently there's no fixed rule on how super majority is defined.

Super Majority - A proposal requiring more than a simple majority of the votes eligible to be cast at an annual or special meeting. A super majority is often a 2/3 (66.66%) vote, but it can be as high as 3/4 (75%) or 4/5 (80%).

http://www.mellon-investor.com/corporations/shareguide_gloss...


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Note added at 31 mins (2003-09-06 02:24:11 GMT)
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I believe each company would define super majority in their articles of association or bye-laws.
Reference:

http://www.mellon-investor.com/corporations/shareguide_gloss_s.html

Peer comment(s):
agree Roddy Stegemann : Very nice.
29 mins
agree Daniel Mencher
1 hr
agree Zein Isa
1 hr
agree Fuad Yahya
1 hr
agree Catherine Christaki
5 hrs
agree airmailrpl : -
5 hrs
agree Empty Whiskey Glass
5 hrs
agree Mario Marcolin : what is otherwise known as qualified majority (EU Nice Treaty=> 62 votes out of 87 (71%))
10 hrs
agree AhmedAMS
7 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks also go to Mario for the further elucidation."
11 hrs

comment


relative/simple majority (a.k.a plurality)

less than half of the total votes cast but more than the minimum required to win, as when there are more than two candidates or choices

absolute majority
=a number of votes constituting more than half of the number cast.

qualified majority (super-majority)

absolute majority qualified by some specified fraction or percentage
e.g. 3/4
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