“Every group has the right of self-government undertaken without outside control. Every group can manage itself exactly as it pleases . . [and] may make any decisions or adopt any format it likes.” -Tradition Four, Life with Hope 3rd edt. pg 71-72
MA World Services has no rules or requirements about how to obtain a group conscience, and does not govern. This includes determining the percentage of votes needed to pass a motion. If a meeting has an established way of obtaining its group conscience, including eligibility requirements, the group/meeting may continue to use any process that functions for the group conscience.
Autonomous meetings are free to decide whether or not there are any such requirements for the group/meeting, including how to obtain a group conscience for the fellowship-wide vote on the proposed changes. Some groups/meetings choose to pass a vote with 2/3 of the members in agreement, others use 3/4 and others use a simple majority.
Group Conscience Examples
Group conscience of simple majority or 51%:
(# of members voting) x 0.51 = # of votes to pass the motion.
Example: 10 members x 0.51 = 5.1 members
- We normally round up to the next whole number with any decimal.
- 6 members would have to vote yes to pass the motion.
- If 5 or more members vote No, then the motion fails.
Group conscience of ⅔ or 66%:
(# of members voting) x 0.66 = # of votes to pass the motion.
Example: 10 members x 0.66 = 6.6 members
- We normally round up to the next whole number with any decimal.
- 7 members would have to vote yes to pass the motion.
- If 4 or more members vote No, then the motion fails.
Group conscience of ¾ of 75%:
(# of members voting) x 0.75 = # of votes to pass the motion.
Example: 10 members x 0.75 = 7.5 members
- We normally round up to the next whole number with any decimal.
- 8 members would have to vote yes to pass the motion.
- If 3 or more members vote No, then the motion fails.
Groups/Meetings are free to determine what percentage of votes are required for this motion and all others, including Conference motions, and other group/meeting business.