What does the term "quorum" ensure in a meeting?

The term "quorum" refers specifically to the minimum number of members that must be present in order to conduct the business of a meeting effectively. This ensures that decisions are representative of the group as a whole and that there is sufficient participation to justify the validity of the decisions made. Having a quorum helps prevent a small, potentially unrepresentative subset of members from making decisions on behalf of the entire group.

This concept is essential for ensuring that meetings are conducted fairly and that all members have a stake in the outcomes. If a quorum is not met, any decisions or votes made during the meeting may be deemed invalid or inappropriate, as they do not reflect the collective input of the group.