Majority Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Majority, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Majority?

(n) Majority is the stage or position by which a person or a group of person attains or acquires the capability or a right to perform a legally binding Act. An individual become competent to do a legally binding Act when he attains certain age limit. A majority holding of right legitimate a person to do functions binding the group.

History and Meaning of Majority

The term "majority" in the legal realm refers to the point at which an individual or group of individuals hold sufficient power or possession of a specific legal right to perform a legally binding act. In most cases, an individual attains the legal capability or right to do a legally binding act once they attain a certain age limit that varies according to the legislation governing the particular action. A majority holding of the right legitimates the person or group of people to carry out functions that bind the group.

Examples of Majority

  1. In a general election, the party that secures the majority of votes is typically elected to power.
  2. In a company's board of directors, the majority is usually the group that holds more than half of the seats.
  3. If a vote is required to pass a certain law or regulation, a majority vote means that the proposal must have more than half of all votes in order to be approved.

Legal Terms Similar to Majority

  1. Plurality: This term is used when more than two options are available, and the option with the most votes wins, even if it has not achieved the majority.
  2. Unanimity: When a decision or verdict is based on a unanimous agreement among all individuals or parties involved.
  3. Supermajority: This term means that a larger percentage, typically two-thirds or more, of votes is required to achieve a majority decision.