In the absence of a bylaw provision, what constitutes a quorum of an organized society?

In the absence of a bylaw provision, a quorum for an organized society is typically defined as a simple majority of the entire membership. This means that more than half of the total number of members must be present for the meeting to be considered valid and able to conduct business. This requirement ensures that decisions are made with adequate representation and support from the group, reflecting a broad consensus rather than simply the will of those who happen to attend.

Choosing a simple majority of the total membership helps to prevent small, unrepresentative groups from making decisions that affect the entire organization. It upholds the democratic principles of participation and representation, ensuring that all members have a meaningful say in the proceedings.

In contrast, other options would not provide the same level of representation or could lead to situations where decisions are made by an insufficiently representative segment of the membership, undermining the legitimacy of the decisions made during the meeting. For instance, simply counting the members present does not guarantee that a majority of the entire group's wishes are being honored.