Casting Vote

Defined in 6 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Kinney (1893), Bouvier (1839)

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

The deciding vote In a deliberative or parliamentary body, cast by the presiding officer in the event of a tie. It sometimes signifies only such a vote, and sometimes the double vote of one who first votes as a member, and afterwards votes to cast off the tie, if one results. 1 Bl. Comm. 181, note; Jacob, "Parliament" (7).

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

The deciding vote at an election.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

The privilege which trie presiding officer possesses of deciding a question where the body is equally divided. It sometimes signifies the single vote of a person who first votes with the rest, and then upon a tie creates a majority by giving a second vote; Christian's note to 1 Bla. Com. 18. The vice-president of the United States, as president of the senate, has the casting-vote when that body is equally divided, but cannot vote at any other time; Const I. 3. This is a provision frequently made, though in some cases the presiding officer, after giving his vote with the other members, is allowed to decide the question in case of a tie; People v. Church, 48 Barb. (N. Y.) 603. A casting vote neither exists in corporations or elsewhere, unless it is expressly given by statute or charter, or, what is equivalent, exists by immemorial usage; and in such cases it cannot be created by a by-law; 6 T. R. 732; see 2 B. & Ad. 704. See Meeting.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

Where the votes of a deliberative assembly or legislative body are equally divided on any question or motion, it Is the privilege of the presiding officer to cast one vote (If otherwise he would not be entitled to any vote) on either side or to cast one additional vote, If he has already voted as a member of the body. This is called the "casting vote." By the common law, a casting vote sometimes signifies the single vote of a person who never votes; but, in the case of an equality, sometimes the double vote of a person who first votes with the rest, and then, upon an equality, creates a majority by giving a second vote. People v. Church of Atonement, 48 Barb. (N. Y.) 606 ; Brown v. Foster, 88 Me. 49, 33 Ail. 662, 31 L. R. A. 116 ; Wooster v. Mullins, 64 Conn. 340, 30 Atl. 144, 25 L. R. A. 694.

A Law Dictionary and Glossary

George C. Kinney · 1893

The vote which a presiding of Hcer where the body over which he presides is equally

A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States

John Bouvier · 1839

legislation, is the vote given by the president, or speaker of a deliberative assembly, when the votes of the other members are equal on both sides, the casting vote then decides the question. act of maliciously depriving a man of one or both his testes; though it usually indicates the deprivation of both. This is a maihem, and punishable as such, though the patients consented to it. By the ancient law of England this crime was punished by retaliation, membrum pro membro, 3 Inst. 118. It is punished in the United States generally by fine and imprisonment. The civil law punished it with death. Dig. 48, 8, 4, 2. -For the French law, vide Code Penal, art. 316. The consequence of castration, when both testes have been removed are impotence and sterility. 1 Beck’s Med. Jur. 72.