Double Majority Concept And Arrangements, Amalgamations Etc.

INTRODUCTION

The Principle of Double Majority is an unwritten convention which gained an uncertain vogue in Canada under the Union Act of 1841². This concept refers to attaining an approval by a simple majority where for such approval, special majority is required. The concept of double majority is accepted worldwide and had been used in decision making process under European Union [EU]. Under EU, a voting rule was suggested and evaluated, i.e. the so-called double majority principle, based on two sets of weights in voting³. One of the current suggestions aims at establishing a doublemajority voting system in the Council of the EU-formerly the Council of Ministers-requiring a majority of both member-states and their populations within that institution⁴. Such a system ensures better and fairer voting for decision making and this is why double majority rules are used in practice⁵.