On Tue, Oct 14, 2003 at 03:29:23AM -0500, Manoj Srivastava wrote: > On Tue, 14 Oct 2003 04:09:47 -0400, Anthony DeRobertis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > > > On Mon, 2003-10-13 at 21:28, Manoj Srivastava wrote: > >> And what is the difference between a 3:1 majority and a 3:1 super > >> majority? If there is no difference, why can't the terms be used > >> interchangeably?
Because there is no reason to add to the confusion if we can avoid it. > > Using two different technical terms makes it seem like there is a > > distinction. Also, a "3:1 majority" is a contradiction; a majority > > is defined as "The greater number or part; a number more than half > > of the total."[0]. If we require more than 50%+1, we no longer > > Last I looked, 75% (3:1 majority) is indeed a number greater > than half of the total. It does not say in the definition just a tad > bit over half so we can just barely call it a majority. As i understand it, a majority is 50% +1, while anything else is a super-majority. There is no such thing as a 75% majority or a 60% majority. These are super-majorities, since they are clearly more than a majority. > > require a majority, we require a supermajority, "a specified > > majority of votes, such as 60 percent, required to approve a motion > > or pass legislation."[1] > > So, supermajority means a specified majority of votes -- so a > supermajority is a majority where we specify how much more than half > its gotta be. Ergo, supermajority is a sunset of a majority. No a supermajority is more than a majority, as the super prefix hints at. As thus it is a subset of a majority (there not being supermajorities which are not majorities too, but there being majorities which are not supermajorities). I thus recommend that you replace all 3:1 majorities and such by 3:1 super majorities. Friendly, Sven Luther -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
