Quorum

A quorum is the minimum number of members of an organization who must be present in order for their meeting to be legal or official.^[1] The word is often used in legislative assemblies, corporations and societies who make official decisions.^[2] The by-laws of an organization will usually say how many members make up a quorum.^[3]

In the case of legislatures and government bodies, the requirements for a quorum are often set by statute or in their constitution. Some bodies use a fixed number for a quorum while others use a percentage of the members.^[4] It is usually the responsibility of the chairperson to make sure there is a quorum present.^[5] If there is not a quorum at a meeting, then in most cases the only business that can be discussed is taking steps to obtain a quorum, to decide on a time when to adjourn the meeting and to adjourn the meeting.^[5]

The noun quorum is the plural of the Latin word qui, meaning "of whom."^[6]

A similar term, "quorum-busting", is a tactic used by members of a group when they know they will lose a vote.^[7] If enough members do not show up for a meeting, a vote cannot take place if there is no quorum.^[7] It is a delaying tactic similar to a filibuster. Both are used in the hopes that if a vote is delayed long enough, it may not take place at all.^[7]