Quorum¶
The quorum specifies the minimum number of people who must take part for a decision to be valid. The form shows the current number alongside it.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| None (default) | Valid regardless of participation |
| Percentage | A proportion of the participants – options: 50%, 66% or a custom value |
| Number | A fixed number of people |
| All | Everyone involved in shaping the topic |
With consensus], the default is Everyone – without everyone’s agreement, there is no consensus. If this is not practicable, for example because someone is away for an extended period, the threshold can be lowered.
What counts as participation¶
It is not just a matter of voting. Anyone who raises an objection, exercises a veto or abstains is also considered to be participating. Anyone who stays out of the proceedings for a valid reason does not, therefore, prevent a quorum from being reached.
This is then withdrawn: if someone withdraws their objection without voting, they are no longer counted as having taken part.
If it goes wrong¶
The decision fails on the grounds that the quorum has not been reached. It does not wait for latecomers, nor does it revert to a result without a quorum.
That’s a comment about the group, not a personal dig: you’ll realise afterwards that the question didn’t reach enough people.
Not everywhere
In consultation and role-based decision, there is no quorum. In these cases, a decision is made as soon as one person decides – the number of people who have previously expressed an opinion does not affect the validity of the decision.