Supermajority

A supermajority or qualified majority is a voting requirement for a motion or candidate to pass some threshold beyond a simple majority. Though the term can be used to describe different thresholds or levels, it is often used to describe a two-thirds majority. Motions that pass by supermajorities are often thought to represent a good compromise between different parties and are less likely to be challenged. Supermajority requirements are believed to help to protect political minorities by requiring that their opinions be addressed in order to build enough support to achieve the higher level of support necessary to surpass a higher threshold.

Though the NationStates United Nations does not require a supermajority for any of its resolutions, many nations and regions require a supermajority for their local political decision making processes. Nearly half of all adopted UN resolutions surpass a two-thirds majority and are said to have been adopted by a supermajority of votes.

Two-thirds majority

A two-thirds majority is the default requirement for a supermajority although other numbers are sometimes used. It is normally used when rights of minorities might be seriously effected, such as on constitutional matters.

The term two-thirds majority is normally avoided by parliamentarians because the word majority always simply means more than half. Instead, parliamentarians speak of "two-thirds of those present and voting," "two-thirds of those present" or "two-thirds of the members." These three kinds of two-thirds majorities have very different meanings and the differences between them can make a supermajoritarian requirement more or less difficult to meet.

A supermajoritarian requirement for the assent of two-thirds of those present and voting is referred to as a simple two-thirds majority. If the term two-thirds majority is used without qualification, it always refers to a simle two-thirds majority. In these cases, all that is required is that two-thirds of votes actually cast be in favor of a motion for it to pass.

A supermajoritarian requirement for the assent of two-thirds of those present effectively counts abstentions as votes against a measure. This means that two-thirds of those actually present at the vote must vote for a measure regardless of whether everyone present votes one way or the other.

A supermajoritarian requirement for the assent of two-thirds of the members is referred to as an absolute two-thirds majority. This means that the votes for a measure must be equal to two-thirds of the total membership of a body regardless of how many are present at the vote or how many actually vote. This is the most stringent form of the two-thirds majority and is normally employed with regard to questions where only a very broad consensus is considered to justify change.