Define majority... define minority. Not numerically (which is clear enough), but politically.

So who are the minorities or the majorities in a society or country? Mathematically speaking, the group with the smaller number of people is the minority and that with the larger number is the majority.... but is that also the case politically?

Is it about which group has more "power"? What sort of power?

And if power is something that flows, when does a minority become a majority... and vice-versa?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

dancingtongue · 80-89, M

Like so much of the English language (if not all languages) depends upon the context in which the word is used. Politically, it means the majority of those voting -- not the majority of the population. And if you are talking about the U.S. Presidency, it is not the majority of Americans, or even the majority of Americans voting, but the majority of electors chosen by State and the number of electors of any given state is based on population. Hence the ability of small to medium states -- and their issues -- to take on disproportionate importance far beyond the big, urban states in close Presidential elections.

As for when a minority becomes a majority: it is when the majority sits on their ass and doesn't get involved and vote, or the minority gets organized and turns out to vote.