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can be specified by rule as the number of members <br />or the total membership, etc. <br /> Assume, for example, that at a meeting ora societyMth <br />a total membership of 150 and a quorum of 10, there <br />30 members present, of whom 25 participate in a given <br />counted vote (taken by rising, by show of hands, by <br />call, or by ballot). Then, with respect to that vote: <br /> <br /> A majority is .............................. 15 <br /> A majority of the members present is ......... I6 <br /> A majority of the entire membership is ........ 76 <br /> A two-thirds vote is ........................ 17 <br /> A vote of two thirds of the members present is. 20 <br /> A vote of two thirds of the entire membership'is <br /> <br /> Regarding these bases f6r determining a voting result, <br />the following points should be noted: <br />o Voting requirements based on the number of <br /> members prcscnt--a majority of those present, two <br /> thirds of those present, etc.--while possible, are <br /> generally undesirable. Since an abstenti6n in such <br /> cases has thc same effect as a negative vote, these <br /> bases deny members the right to maintain a neutral <br /> position by abstaining. For the same reason, members <br /> present who fail to vote through indifference rather <br /> than through d~libcrate neutrality may affect the <br /> result negatively. When such a vote is required, how- <br /> ever, the chair must count those present immediately <br /> after thc affirmative votc is taken, before any change <br /> can take place in attendance (sec p. 44). <br />· A prescribed requirement of a majority of thc entire <br /> <br /> 399 <br /> BASES O~ voTING RESULT <br /> <br /> e---which in certain instances may be <br /> >rtate in permanent boards, where the members <br /> ted to attend the meetings--is generally <br /> ' <br /> [sitisfactory in the assembly of an ordinary soctety, <br /> 1ncc it is likely to be impossible to get a majority of <br /> entire membership even to attend a given <br /> ~enever it is'desired that the basis for decision be <br /> than a majority vote or (where the normal rules of <br />.liamentary law require it) a two-thirds vote, the desired <br /> should be precisely defined in the bylaws. Whatever <br /> ting basis is used, it is also possible to include a <br /> &ement ofprevious notice for specified types of action. <br /> ?revious notice means that notice of intent to introduce <br /> ~c proposal must be given at thc preceding meeting (in <br /> ch case the notice can be oral), or in the call of the <br /> at which it is brought up (for a discussion of <br /> see p. 118). <br /> ,,, <br /> <br />~' Plurality Vote <br />ApIuralivy vote is the largest number of votes to be given <br />~y candidate or proposition when three or more choices. <br />ire possible; the candidate or proposition receiving the <br />largest number of votes has a plurality. A plurality that is <br /> yin a le~alb' fixed membership--for example, a <br /> qn the ease of a body ha . .g ,v~ ~:~.e~ulrcment asa majorltyof <br />permanent board--k ~s also po tmc to ocnnc a w~u,,)3 · .~ <br /> · .~s rearer than a ma3onty ortho entire membership it' <br /> the fixed mcmb.ersh~p,,whjch ~s, ~. _ :~ ~ ~ard whose membership ~s legally.fix.ed <br /> there are vacancies on mc ooara ~n.u~. ,. ,, ~,~ u .... ot been named a majority <br /> ed an ti~etr successorsn~w- ' <br /> atl2 if2mcmbcrshavcd! d . . _e.t.~c.~am~.m crshivis7. Wherea <br />ortheeo,i~e membership is 6, a~.d.~ ma~o.~%oJJ.,~;.~i~ioi,L'~ boO'y eannO~ a~ ir <br /> majority of thc fixed mcmbcrshtp ts rcqmreo ~o, ~ ,~ , / / <br /> hal for ~nore of the membership positions are vacant, <br /> <br /> <br />