Qualified Majority Voting Essay ⋆ Political Science Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire

A qualified majority voting system, also known as a supermajority, is a parliamentary rule which requires that legislation or motions obtain a predetermined number of votes beyond a simple majority. Common qualified majority voting numbers range from three-fifths to three-quarters of the legislature; however, the percentage required for a qualified majority varies from issue to issue and from country to country. For instance, in the United States, the Senate may invoke cloture to end a filibuster with a qualified majority of three-fifths of the members present and voting, but to ratify a treaty, the Senate needs a two-thirds majority vote. Both houses of Congress require a two-third majority vote to override a presidential veto. Under the Treaty of Nice, the Council of Europe requires a supermajority of 255 votes or 62 percent in order to pass measures.

The qualified majority voting system was developed as a means to ensure the broadest possible support for the most significant measures considered by legislatures, and to ensure that legislation was not enacted without significant debate and consideration. Critics of qualified majority assert that the system often places unfair obligations on minority groups in the legislature and reinforces majoritarian systems.

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