Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Nonegative-rulelife_2.jpg|right|frame|<center>Circumstances are the rulers of the weak;</center><center>They are the instruments of the [[wise]].</center><center>Samuel Lover</center>]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Nonegative-rulelife_2.jpg|right|frame|<center>Circumstances are the rulers of the weak;</center><center>They are the instruments of the [[wise]].</center><center>Samuel Lover</center>]]

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1552]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1552]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 obsolete : the [[quality]] or [[state]] of being greater

*1 obsolete : the [[quality]] or [[state]] of being greater

*5 : the military office, rank, or commission of a major

*5 : the military office, rank, or commission of a major

==Description==

==Description==

A '''majority''', also known as a simple majority in the U.S., is a subset of a [[group]] consisting of more than half of the group. This should not be confused with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plurality_(voting) plurality], which is a subset having the largest [[number]] of [[parts]]. A plurality is not [[necessarily]] a majority, as the largest subset may be less than half of the entire [[group]]. In British English, majority and plurality are often used as synonyms; it can also refer to the margin of vote separating the first-place finisher from the second-place finisher, so that a candidate who wins by 1000 votes may be said to have received "a majority of 1000 votes". The term "overall majority" is used in British [[English]] to refer to the [[difference]] between the number of votes received by the winner and the combined votes cast for all other candidates. The term "absolute majority" is used to indicate more than fifty percent of the vote.

A '''majority''', also known as a simple majority in the U.S., is a subset of a [[group]] consisting of more than half of the group. This should not be confused with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plurality_(voting) plurality], which is a subset having the largest [[number]] of [[parts]]. A plurality is not [[necessarily]] a majority, as the largest subset may be less than half of the entire [[group]]. In British English, majority and plurality are often used as synonyms; it can also refer to the margin of vote separating the first-place finisher from the second-place finisher, so that a candidate who wins by 1000 votes may be said to have received "a majority of 1000 votes". The term "overall majority" is used in British [[English]] to refer to the [[difference]] between the number of votes received by the winner and the combined votes cast for all other candidates. The term "absolute majority" is used to indicate more than fifty percent of the vote.

For example, in a hypothetical group of 40 athletes there are:

For example, in a hypothetical group of 40 athletes there are:

In this [[group]], a majority would consist of more than half the total [[number]] of [[athletes]], or 21 athletes. The group of all ball sport players together (15 football players + 6 table tennis players = 21) comprise a majority. However, football players, 15 in number, comprise a plurality, not a majority. In British English usage, football players would be described as having a majority of 5 (15 - 10) over sprinters, no [[individual]] sport has an absolute majority or an overall majority, and ball players have an overall majority of 2 (21 - 19) over the other sports.

In this [[group]], a majority would consist of more than half the total [[number]] of [[athletes]], or 21 athletes. The group of all ball sport players together (15 football players + 6 table tennis players = 21) comprise a majority. However, football players, 15 in number, comprise a plurality, not a majority. In British English usage, football players would be described as having a majority of 5 (15 - 10) over sprinters, no [[individual]] sport has an absolute majority or an overall majority, and ball players have an overall majority of 2 (21 - 19) over the other sports.

[[Category: Political Science]]

[[Category: Political Science]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]