What is Simple Majority?
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: November 9th, 2023
Simple majority means a majority of more than 50% of the members present and voting in the Parliament House. It is also known as functional or executive majority. This is the most commonly used type of majority. The Indian Constitution makes no express distinction between majorities. But a thorough reading of the various clauses in the Indian Constitution would give you a good notion of the four different majorities, namely absolute majority, effective majority, simple majority, and special majority.
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Simple Majority
A constitutional amendment measure under Article 368 of Indian Constitution only requires a simple majority in the state legislatures to pass, and the states must ratify it. In a parliamentary democracy, the parliament makes all significant decisions. A majority vote of the parliament is required for a measure to pass.
Example: Considering 45 members are absent, and 100 members abstained from voting, out of 545 members in the Lok Sabha. So, there are 400 members present for voting. The simple majority needed is 201.
A simple majority is required in the following cases:
- To pass a Motion to Adjourn/Motion of No Confidence/Motion to Deny/Motion with Confidence
- To declare a financial emergency
- Declare rule of President of India
- To elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Summary:
What is the Simple Majority?
A simple majority is a majority of more than 50% of the members present to vote in the House. This is the general type of majority, also known as an executive or functional majority.
- In a parliamentary democracy, the parliament takes all the major decisions.
- For a bill to be passed, the Parliament has to approve it with a majority.
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