Supermajority: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

A supermajority or a qualified majority is a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level or type of support (which exceeds a simple majority, anything over 50 percent plus one) in order to have effect. It is a common requirement for changes to constitutions, especially those with entrenched clauses.

The European Union Council of Ministers uses a qualified majority system for its decision making to balance the interest of small and large member states.

The United States Senate requires a supermajority of 60 percent to move to a vote through a cloture motion, allowing a large minority to filibuster.