Definition

1. Noun:
   • The minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid. A quorum is the required attendance for official business to be conducted legally.

Usage

• The word "quorum" is used primarily in formal, organizational contexts such as government bodies, committees, boards of directors, shareholder meetings, and legislative assemblies.
• It is typically used with verbs like "have," "reach," "constitute," "form," and "lack."
• It often appears in phrases like "a quorum of [number]" or "to establish a quorum."

Examples

• Noun:
  • The meeting could not begin because they did not have a quorum.
  • According to the bylaws, a quorum is ten members.
  • Once a quorum was present, the chairperson called the session to order.

Advanced Usage

• "To call a quorum": To formally determine if the minimum number of members is present.
  • The secretary will call a quorum before we proceed to the agenda.
• "Quorum-busting": A tactic of deliberately not attending a meeting to prevent a quorum and thus block proceedings.
  • The opposition party engaged in quorum-busting to stall the vote.

Variants and Related Words

• Quorate (adj): Describing a meeting where a quorum is present.
  • The assembly was quorate, so the debate began.
• Inquorate (adj): Describing a meeting where a quorum is not present.
  • The inquorate committee could only discuss items informally.

Synonyms

• Minimum attendance: The smallest number of people required to be present.
• Required number: The necessary count of participants.

Related Phrases

• "Lack of a quorum": The state of not having the required minimum number present.
  • Due to a lack of a quorum, the meeting was adjourned.
• "Constitute a quorum": To form or make up the required number.
  • Do the members present constitute a quorum?

Noun

1. a gathering of the minimal number of members of an organization to conduct business