Quorum

Definitions

1. A select body of (usually eminent) justices of the peace, every member of which had to be present to constitute a deciding body; a member of this body. Later more generally: all justices collectively.
   historical
2. The minimum number of members required for a group to officially conduct business and to cast votes, often but not necessarily a majority or supermajority.
3. Distinguished or essential members of any body; a select company.
   archaic
4. The minimum number of votes that a distributed transaction has to obtain in order to be allowed to perform an operation in a distributed system.

Equivalents

Examples

“We can discuss⟳ the issue⟳ tonight but cannot vote⟳ until we have⟳ a quorum.”

“Texas House Democrats’ historic quorum break⟳ unexpectedly ended Thursday evening when at least three new Democrats returned to the floor, paving the way for state Republicans to pass⟳ restrictive voting legislation. The surprise⟳ turn⟳ of events quickly led to public accusations of betrayal among Democrats, as the House now has the required two-thirds of members necessary for a quorum.”

“They may not be using the same sort⟳ of hard-charging tactics we saw⟳ in the first Trump administration, when they would deny⟳ Republicans quorums for votes in committee or those kinds of things, but what we will see⟳ is they’re going to ask⟳ hard questions and make⟳ made-for-TV moments.”

CEFR level