Mehrheit

Mehrheit is a term used in politics, voting theory, and decision-making to describe the amount of support that a group or option gains relative to others. In most contexts a majority means more than half of the votes or eligible votes. When a proposal receives more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast, it has an absolute majority. This is a common standard in many national legislatures for passing laws or electing leaders, provided abstentions or invalid ballots are not counted as votes.

There are related concepts. A simple or relative majority refers to the largest share among options, even if this share is less than 50 percent, so the winner has the most votes but not necessarily a majority. In some systems, a further threshold is required: a qualified or supermajority, such as two-thirds or three-fifths, to approve certain measures, change constitutional rules, or make binding decisions.

Turnout and ballot validity matter. In some cases the majority is calculated only from valid votes; in others the denominator includes all eligible voters, making turnout a factor in the required threshold. The term also describes the composition of a decision-making body: the side that holds more seats or votes in a chamber is said to hold the majority, shaping policy and legislative agendas.

The concept is central to democratic governance, but majority rule is typically balanced by protection of minority rights and institutional checks and balances to prevent the tyranny of the majority.