unanimity

Unanimity is the state or condition in which all members of a group agree on a decision or judgment. The word derives from Latin unanimitas, meaning “one mind.” In formal settings, unanimity is typically achieved when every participant votes in favor or when the group adopts a decision by unanimous consent.

In political, legal, and organizational contexts, unanimity is valued for legitimacy, durability, and the absence of opposition. It can enhance compliance and reduce future disputes, since no member can contest the outcome as illegitimate. However, achieving unanimity can be difficult or impossible in larger or more diverse groups, and the pursuit of it can produce gridlock, delay, or suppress minority views—an effect sometimes described as groupthink.

Unanimity contrasts with majority rule or supermajority requirements. In some settings, unanimity is required for major actions (such as constitutional amendments, certain corporate approvals, or procedural changes), while in others, it is used only as a strong norm rather than a formal rule. Practices such as unanimous consent or unanimous votes are tools to formalize unanimity, occasionally in conjunction with procedures that protect minority rights.

Unanimity is related to, but distinct from, consensus. Consensus aims for broad support and general acceptance, not necessarily perfect agreement. In practice, many organizations strive for broad consensus but default to majority or supermajority voting when unanimity cannot be reached.