Final answer:
In shareholder voting, written consents typically require either a simple majority (50 percent + 1 vote) for routine matters, or a supermajority (60 percent, two-thirds, or 75 percent) for more significant actions. Supermajority rules make changing the status quo more difficult. Distinctions between public votes and director's consent are important, as they apply to different contexts. b) Majority consent
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of shareholder voting, written consents are an alternative to holding a formal vote at a shareholders' meeting. For shareholder written consents, the specific requirements can vary by company and jurisdiction, but in general, they often need to adhere to the majority rule or supermajority rule, depending on the type of decision to be made or as stated in the company's bylaws.
In many cases, for routine or ordinary business matters, a simple majority consent (50 percent + 1 vote) might suffice, which is consistent with the idea that most ordinary laws require passage by a simple majority. However, more significant decisions, including amendments to the bylaws or articles of incorporation, mergers, or sales of substantial company assets, typically require a supermajority consent. This could mean a threshold of 60 percent, two-thirds (67 percent), or even up to 75 percent approval from the voting shareholders. In collaborative decision-making settings, if a supermajority rule is applied, it can strengthen the position of the status quo since it's more difficult to achieve a high percentage of affirmative votes.
It is important to distinguish that a public vote typically refers to government elections or referenda, not to private corporate decision-making processes. Conversely, a board of directors does not grant a director's consent for shareholder decisions; rather, directors would vote in their own separate capacity regarding board-related matters, not as an action on behalf of the shareholders.