q-u-o-r-u-m
QUORUM is the minimum number of members required to be present for a group to conduct official business. Essential in parliamentary procedure and corporate governance. In Scrabble, QUORUM scores 17 base points with its valuable Q tile.
17
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
QUORUM stands as a cornerstone of democratic decision-making, representing the minimum number of members who must be present for a deliberative body to legally conduct business. Without a quorum, no official actions can be taken, votes counted, or decisions ratified—a safeguard ensuring that a small minority cannot make binding decisions for an entire organization.
The concept emerged from the need to balance efficiency with representation. Requiring every member's presence would paralyze most organizations, while allowing too few to decide invites abuse. Different bodies set different quorum requirements: the U.S. Senate requires 51 senators, the House needs 218 representatives, while many corporate boards operate with a simple majority. Some organizations use percentages (often 50% plus one), while others set fixed numbers.
In practice, establishing quorum becomes the first order of business at any formal meeting. The chair typically announces, "A quorum is present," signaling that proceedings may begin. If members leave and quorum is lost, business must halt—leading to the parliamentary tactic of "disappearing quorums," where minority parties flee to prevent votes they oppose. This occurred famously when Texas Democrats fled to Oklahoma in 2003 to block redistricting.
Modern technology has complicated quorum rules. Virtual meetings raise questions: does electronic presence count? Can members participate by phone? COVID-19 accelerated acceptance of remote participation, with many jurisdictions updating centuries-old quorum rules to accommodate video conferencing. Some organizations now distinguish between "physical quorum" and "virtual quorum."
Beyond formal governance, "quorum" has entered general usage to describe any critical mass needed for action. Tech companies speak of "quorum sensing" in distributed systems, where servers must achieve consensus before proceeding. Social movements discuss the "quorum of public opinion" needed for change. The word captures a fundamental truth: legitimate collective action requires sufficient participation.
For Scrabble strategists, QUORUM offers exceptional value. The Q tile (10 points) drives most of the word's 17 base points, making it one of the highest-scoring common Q words that doesn't require a U immediately after Q. This flexibility is crucial since Q-without-U words are rare. QUORUM can be extended to QUORUMS for easy pluralization. The word's balanced structure—consonant-vowel alternation—makes it relatively easy to play, especially compared to other Q words like QUIXOTIC or QUIZZICAL.
"Quorum" comes directly from Latin, where it literally means "of whom." This unusual etymology stems from its use in medieval legal commissions, making it one of the few English words that preserves an inflected Latin genitive plural form.
The word originated in the formal wording of commissions appointing justices of the peace in 14th-century England. These documents included the phrase "quorum vos... unum esse volumus" (of whom we wish you... to be one). Certain specially qualified justices were designated in the "quorum clause"—their presence was required for the commission to act.
Evolution of meaning: • 1400s: Specific justices named in the "quorum" clause • 1500s: The select group of required justices themselves • 1600s: Minimum number needed for any official body • 1700s: Extended to non-governmental organizations • Modern: Any minimum threshold for collective action
The preservation of the Latin genitive plural is linguistically remarkable. Most Latin borrowings adapt to English grammar ("forums" not "fora"), but "quorum" fossilized a specific grammatical form. Related legal Latin phrases like "habeas corpus" (you shall have the body) and "subpoena" (under penalty) similarly preserve inflected forms, reflecting law's conservative relationship with language.
•QUORUM is one of the few common Q words where U doesn't immediately follow Q, giving players more flexibility
•The U.S. Congress has used the same quorum rules since 1789: 51 senators and 218 representatives
•"Quorum-busting" is a legitimate parliamentary tactic where members deliberately absent themselves to prevent votes
"The board meeting couldn't proceed—we were one member short of a quorum, so all decisions had to wait."
"Landing QUORUM with the Q on a triple letter score netted me 51 points in one play!"
FORUM
Meeting place
SENATE
Legislative body
BOARD
Governing group
COUNCIL
Advisory body
PANEL
Group of experts
CAUCUS
Political meeting
Similar length and difficulty words
Total base points: 17 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 3 | Consonants: 3
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