From Merriam Webster's Collegiate (via Jeeves): Main Entry: ma·jor·i·ty Date: 1552 1 obsolete : the quality or state of being greater 2 a : the age at which full civil rights are accorded b : the status of one who has attained this age 3 a : a number greater than half of a total b : the excess of a majority over the remainder of the total : MARGIN c : the preponderant quantity or share 4 : the group or political party whose votes preponderate 5 : the military office, rank, or commission of a major - majority adjective
Also from Merriam Webster: Main Entry: majority rule Date: 1893 : a political principle providing that a majority usually constituted by fifty percent plus one of an organized group will have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole Definitions 3c and 4 seem to mean any quantity required to win an election. Also note the relatively recent origin of the phrase "majority rule". Bart Olli Salmi wrote: > > At 22:10 -0800 24.2.2003, Bart Ingles wrote: > >Just to further muddy the waters on the definition of "majority", note > >Duverger's use of the term as apparently synonymous with "plurality": > > Outside the US (or North America) it's normal to use "majority" or > "simple majority" for what Americans call "plurality", and "absolute > majority" for "majority". > http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/voting_system/newsid_1173000/1173697.stm > > I made a short search and it seems that "simple majority" in the US > means "more than 50%, as opposed to a 2/3rds majority or some other > special majority". In the UK it seems to emphasize "majority of those > present and voting, as apposed to a special majority or a majority of > all members". > > "SImple majority" clearly means "absolute majority" in this link from Scotland: > http://www.sec.ed.ac.uk/Committees/AcYear/consult/VotingPaper.htm ---- Election-methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info