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• Most ordinances. Since most ordinances must be approved by a majority of the entire council,vacancies on the council can affect the number of votes needed to pass an ordinance. For example,if there were two vacancies on a five-member council,the entire council would consist of three members.In this case,a majority of the entire council would be two rather than three. A.G.Op.63a-I I(Oct.20,1966). • Situations where statutes require extraordinary votes. If a statute or charter provision requires a specific number of votes(rather than a percentage of the council),the vacancy probably won't affect the required numbers of votes. W. Absences Tracy Cement Tile Co.v.City of A councilmember's absence from a meeting does not affect the number of Tracy, 143 Minn.415,176 N.W. votes needed if a statute requires an affirmative vote by a specified portion of 189(1919). the entire council. Minn.Stat.§§412.191,subd.1; . Achieving a quorum. Absences can certainly affect the ability of a city 645.08(5). council to achieve a quorum,since a majority of a statutory city council is needed to achieve a quorum.For example,if one or two members of a five-member council are absent,the three remaining councilmembers would constitute a quorum.However,if three members were absent,the remaining two members would not be able to hold a meeting because a quorum would not be present. Jensen v.Indep.Consol.Sch.Dist. • Motions and resolutions. Since most motions and resolutions must be No.85, 160 Minn.233,199 N.W. approved by a majority of those present in order to pass,an absence can 911(1924);A.G.Op.471-M(Oct. 30,1986);A.G.Op.161-A-20 affect the number of votes needed.The general rule is that if a quorum is (June 3,1987);Minn.Stat.§ present,a majority of the quorum can pass any action except those where a 645.08(5). statute or charter provision requires a larger number.The fewer members present,the fewer needed to constitute a majority. For example,if two members of a five-member council are absent,the remaining three constitute a quorum.A 2-1 vote is sufficient to pass most motions at such a meeting.However,if all five members were present,at least three votes would be needed to pass the same motion. Minn.Stat.§412.191,subd.4. • Most ordinances. The absence of a councilmember from a meeting does not affect the number of votes needed if the statutes require that a specified portion of the entire council is needed to approve an action.For example,it takes a majority of the entire council to pass an ordinance in a statutory city.In most statutory cities,a majority is three votes.If one councilmember were absent,it would still take a majority of the entire council(or three votes)to pass the ordinance. • Situations where statutes require extraordinary votes. The absence of a member will not affect the number of votes needed if a statute requires approval by a specific number of votes or a certain portion of the entire ` council. ~ 32 League of Minnesota Cities