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Quorum
2012/08/19
6:25am
Raffee
Iran
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Could the word be used in such contexts as the following?

The course (a university course for example) will begin as soon as we have a quorum of 15.

2012/08/19
12:35pm
Dick
Fort Worth, TX
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I think this is correct.  I have seen it used more often in business or government situations but this seems to fit the definition.

2012/08/19
1:52pm
RobertB
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It has something to do with representation, voting, decision making, like that. The class'd better be very mature and active, because sarcasm threatens to suggest itself here.

2012/08/20
6:24am
Raffee
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So, what's another way to say this, using another word with the same meaning, I mean?

2012/08/20
7:54am
Dick
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You could say "minimum number."  But, unlike Robert B,I don't think there would be any problem at all using "quorum."  It means "minimum number of people required to do the business at hand."  I only mentioned, previously, that it is usually found in the context of business or government, but it fits in this situation as well.

2012/08/20
8:29am
Heimhenge
New River, AZ, USA
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Yeah, I subscribe to Dick's definition. When I wrote the constitution for our astronomy club, I described our decision-making process as follows:

Regardless of the number of members in attendance, those present shall constitute a quorum for voting on all matters of club business.

I wrote it that way because we're a small club and often need to make decisions quickly. During our "constitutional convention" everyone knew what I meant and passed that paragraph without discussion.

2012/08/21
4:20am
Raffee
Iran
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By asking about the usage of 'quorum' , I also wanted to find the usual way to express yourself in the aforementioned context(=educational, or whatever). I thought there was a word for that 'minimum number', but seems that simply 'minimum number' does the  job. Thanks

2012/08/21
9:06am
Heimhenge
New River, AZ, USA
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No, I think the term minimum number is a bit vague in that construction. To respond to your original question, I would prefer the term minimum enrollment or maybe the minimum class size.

2012/08/25
10:09am
Bob Bridges
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I'm a little uncomfortable with saying that quorum merely means "minimum number".  The only context I've ever heard it in has to do with authority to take action, as by a sufficient number of the members.  Thus the bylaws may degree that a meeting of the board of directors cannot pass any measure having to do with issuing stock unless a quorum is present.  If I wanted to say that I wouldn't teach a class unless at least n students signed up for it, I wouldn't use "quorum" for that except jokingly; the concept is similar, but not the same.

2012/08/26
5:49am
Glenn
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I agree in general that a quarum implies sufficiency for decision making, etc. But I wouldn't squirm if I heard it used for the classroom situation. But in the classroom, if I were thinking clearly, I might call into service the phrase "critical mass."

2012/08/27
1:56pm
RobertB
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A líne has to be drawn somewhere down this slippery slope. Where?
Minimum number of kindergarteners ?
Movie patrons ?
Construction workers ?
Touch footballers ?
Team of oxens ?

This should be a loose guideline, where 'committee' doesn't apply, 'quorum' probably has no business.

2012/09/01
2:09pm
Bob Bridges
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In Glenn's defense, I think we can legitimately make a distinction between its careful and correct meaning and a deliberate misuse for humorous or metaphorical applications.  As we used to say in my family regarding some table manners (not all), "it's ok as long as you know better".  At the dinner table that meant "I won't complain about you doing that here at home, but if I see you doing it while we're eating out we're going to have to tighten up the rules here too until I know you can eat without doing it that way."  It seems to me something of that sort can be said about the misuse of certain words:  As long as you know it's technically not the correct one, I wouldn't complain about its use in this context just to make the point clear.  But if you end up confusing the point rather than clarifying it, or if you appear to think it's actually the right word, we may have to have a talk.

Of course, maybe we'll have a talk anyway, just for fun.  That is after all the whole point of this forum which Grant and Martha have so fun-lovingly provided for us.