Ostrum

Ostrum is a term used in the context of legal and political processes, particularly in the United States, to describe a situation where a legislative body, such as a state legislature, is unable to pass a bill due to a lack of quorum. Quorum refers to the minimum number of members required to be present to conduct business. In the case of a state legislature, this typically means a majority of the members of each chamber must be present.

When a legislative body is in ostrum, it means that the body is effectively deadlocked, as it cannot take any action without a quorum. This situation can arise due to various reasons, such as members being absent, refusing to vote, or otherwise preventing the body from meeting the quorum requirement.

Ostrum is often used as a metaphor to describe a situation where a decision-making body is unable to function due to internal conflicts or disagreements. The term is derived from the Latin word "ostrum," which means "obstruction" or "impediment." It is important to note that ostrum is not a legal term in the same way that other terms like "quorum" or "adjournment" are, but it is widely used in political and legal discussions to describe this specific situation.