What is the quorum in a committee?

The correct answer states that a quorum in a committee is defined as a majority of its membership. This principle is crucial in the governance and decision-making processes within committees, ensuring that decisions made reflect the majority view while also providing legitimacy to the proceedings.

A majority typically means more than half of the total members. This requirement is in place to ensure that a significant portion of the committee is represented when making decisions, which helps prevent a small number of members from making decisions without broader support. Establishing a quorum prevents scenarios where decisions are made in the absence of adequate representation and promotes accountability and transparency.

Other definitions of quorum, such as requiring all members to be present or a specific predetermined number, do not align with common practices. The notion of requiring all members to be present would impede decision-making when the group has members unable to attend meetings, while a specific number could unnecessarily complicate the rules of procedure without the flexibility that a majority offers. Lastly, only needing half of the members would not necessarily guarantee that more than half of the total membership is involved, potentially compromising the integrity of the group's decisions.