In a deliberative assembly, what does a majority vote signify?

A majority vote signifies approval by more than half of the members who are present and participating in the voting process. This means that if there are, for example, 100 members in total at a meeting, at least 51 members must vote in favor of a motion for it to pass. Majority rules ensure that the decision reflects the preferences of more than half of the participating members, thus promoting democratic principles within the assembly.

Options implying approval by all members present or consensus among all members do not capture the essence of a majority vote since they require total agreement rather than the minimum threshold necessary for a decision. Similarly, the notion of a decision made by those elected to speak does not accurately describe the voting process, which respects all votes cast by present members, rather than limiting it to a specific group.