quorum
/'kwɔ:rəm/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- a gathering of the minimal number of members of an organization to conduct business