What does a decision made by a deliberative assembly generally require to be valid?

A decision made by a deliberative assembly generally requires a majority or a specified higher vote to be considered valid. This is fundamental to the principles of parliamentary procedure, where decisions are made based on the will of the majority while allowing for provisions that can call for a higher threshold under certain circumstances. For instance, most routine decisions are approved by a simple majority, which ensures that the views of more than half of the voting members carry the day.

Certain situations, such as amending the bylaws or other significant actions, may require a supermajority (e.g., two-thirds or three-fourths majority) to provide greater consensus among members. This system encourages participation and debate, as it allows a sufficient number of members to influence the decision-making process without requiring total agreement, thus fostering a democratic approach within the assembly.

In contrast, while a motion may need to be seconded to indicate support for discussing it, this is a procedural step rather than a determinant of validity. A clear statement in the bylaws can dictate specific requirements for different types of decisions, but the necessity of a vote—majority or otherwise—is what ultimately determines the validity of a decision. A unanimous vote, while often seen as ideal, is not a practical requirement for all decisions