Consensus decision-making
Consensus decision-making is a group de-
cision making process that not only seeks the
agreement of most participants, but also the
resolution or mitigation of minority objec-
tions. Consensus is usually defined as mean-
ing both general agreement, and the process
of getting to such agreement. Consensus
decision-making is thus concerned primarily
with that process.
While not as common as other decision-
making procedures, such as the parliament-
ary procedure explained in Robert’s Rules of
Order, consensus is used by a wide variety of
groups. Religious denominations such as the
Quakers, economic policy bodies including
the Dutch Polder Model and historical
Hanseatic League, anarchist organizations
such as Food Not Bombs and various in-
foshops, many non-governmental organiza-
tions, online forums and projects such as
Wikipedia, and even entire nations such as
the Haudenosaunee use consensus decision-
making.
Objectives
As a decision-making process, consensus
decision-making aims to be:
• : As many stakeholders as possible should
be involved in the consensus decision-
making process.
• : The consensus process should actively
solicit the input and participation of all
decision-makers.[1]
• : Participants in an effective consensus
process should strive to reach the best
possible decision for the group and all of
its members, rather than opt to pursue a
majority opinion, potentially to the
detriment of a minority.[1]
• : All members of a consensus decision-
making body should be afforded, as much
as possible, equal input into the process.
All members have the opportunity to
present, amend and veto or "block"
proposals.
• : An effective consensus decision-making
body strives to emphasize common
agreement over differences and reach
effective decisions using compromise and
other techniques to avoid or resolve
mutually-exclusive positions within the
group.
• : This happens when a solution appears to
be impossible to execute because of the
lack of support and cooperation.[2]
Alternative to majori