What is quorum and why is it important for official meetings?

• A. The maximum number of attendees allowed.
• B. A type of voting method.
• C. The minimum number of members required to conduct business; without it, votes are not valid.
• D. A meeting with no minimum.

Answer: (C)

Quorum is the minimum number of members who must be present for a meeting to legally conduct business and for votes to be valid. This threshold ensures that decisions reflect a meaningful portion of the group and prevents a tiny subset from binding the organization. If the meeting doesn’t reach quorum, proceedings aren’t binding and votes may be deferred or the meeting adjourned until enough members can be present. Quorum is usually defined in bylaws or rules and may include remote participation if allowed.

The other options miss the point: the maximum number relates to capacity, not legitimacy; a voting method describes how decisions are made rather than whether enough people are present; and a meeting with no minimum would allow decisions to proceed without adequate representation.