abstract:A supermajority or a qualified majority is a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified greater level of support than a 50% simple majority. In some jurisdictions, for example, parliamentary procedure requires that any action that may alter the rights of a minority has a supermajority requirement (such as a two-thirds majority).
Once Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty certifies Franken's election certificate, Democrats will have the 60-vote supermajority needed to break a filibuster in the Senate.