Yes, 3 can be a quorum in certain circumstances, specifically as defined by the rules governing a body with five serving members.
Understanding Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of voting members that must be present at a meeting to make the proceedings of that meeting valid. Without a quorum, any votes or decisions made are typically not legally binding. The specific number required for a quorum is usually defined by the rules, bylaws, or governing law of the organization or body.
- Purpose of Quorum: Ensures that decisions are made by a sufficiently representative portion of the membership, preventing a small minority from acting on behalf of the whole body.
Quorum for a Body of Five Members
According to the provided reference, the general law creating the body dictates the quorum calculation:
"Because the general law creating the body specifies that quorum is measured as a majority of the five (5) serving members, quorum is now three (3) members."
This statement clearly establishes the quorum requirement for this specific body:
- Total Serving Members: 5
- Quorum Definition: A majority of the serving members.
- Majority Calculation: A majority of 5 is the smallest whole number greater than half of 5. Half of 5 is 2.5. The smallest whole number greater than 2.5 is 3.
- Resulting Quorum: 3 members.
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Members | 5 |
| Quorum Calculation | Majority of Members |
| Calculated Quorum | 3 |
Therefore, for this body specifically governed by this law, the required quorum is indeed three (3) members. This means that at least three of the five serving members must be present for a meeting to officially conduct business and make valid decisions.
Practical Implications
In practice, this means that if only two members attend a meeting, they cannot legally hold discussions that require official action or votes. They might be able to have informal discussions or reschedule, but they cannot pass motions or resolutions.
This rule ensures that any action taken reflects the will of more than half of the body's membership, providing legitimacy to their decisions.
