What does consensus mean?

• A. An agreement by everyone.
• B. A majority vote.
• C. A decision by a single leader.
• D. A formal invitation to debate.

Answer: (A)

Consensus means everyone in the group agrees to the final decision, or can live with it after discussion and tweaks. It’s about broad agreement and unity, not just a simple majority or a top option chosen by the most people. In practice, people explore concerns, adjust ideas, and aim for a solution that all members can support.

This is different from a majority vote, where the option with more than half the votes wins even if some people strongly disagree. It’s also not a decision made by a single leader, which would be autocratic, or merely an invitation to debate, which is just the start of discussion rather than the outcome. Consensus emphasizes collaborative decision-making and shared buy-in.