Which of the following best defines quorum?

Quorum is best defined as the minimum number of members needed to conduct business at a meeting and to ensure that decisions made are representative of the group as a whole. It serves as a foundation for allowing a meeting to proceed and for ensuring that actions taken during the meeting are valid and binding. When quorum is present, it means there are enough members present to make decisions and pass motions legitimately.

In contrast, the total number of members in a committee does not define quorum; it simply provides context about the size of the group. The maximum number of members allowed to speak is unrelated to the definition of quorum, as it pertains to procedural rules rather than the threshold for decision-making. Lastly, the number of votes needed to achieve a tie is also not relevant to the concept of quorum, which focuses on attendance rather than the specifics of voting outcomes. Therefore, the choice that highlights the minimum number of members required to pass a motion correctly captures the essence of what quorum is in a parliamentary context.