Plurality

The greatest number of votes given for any one person. Plurality has the meaning, as used in governmental law, given above. Thus, if there are three candidates, for whom four hundred, three hundred and fifty, and two hundred and fifty Votes are respectively given, the one receiving four hundred has a plurality, while five hundred and one would be a majority of the votes cast. PLURES COHAEREDES SUNT QUASI unum corpus, propter unitatem Juris quod^ habent. Several coheirs are as one body, by reason of the unity of right which they possess. Co. Litt. 163. PLURES PARTICIPES SUNT QUASI unum corpus. In eo quod unum Jus habent. Several part owners are as one body, by reason of the unity of their rights. Co. Litt. 164. PLURIES (Lat. many times). A writ issued subsequently to a first and second {alias) of the same kind, which have proved ineffectual. The name is given to it from the word pluries in the Latin form of the writ: "We command you, as we have often (pluries) commanded you before," which distinguishes it from those which have gone before. Pluries is variously translated, in the modern forms of writs, by "formerly," "more than once," "often." The next writ to the pluries is called the second pluries," and so on. 3 Bl. Comm. 283, Append. 15; Nat. Brev. 33. PLURIS PETITIO (Lat.)

In Scotch practice. An excessive demand. PLUS EXEMPLA QUAM PECCATA NOcent. Examples hurt more than offenses. PLUS PECCAT AUCTOR QUAM ACtor. The instigator of a crime is worse than he who perpetrates it. 5 Coke, 99.

In the law of elections, the candidate who receives more votes than -any other one, but not as many as all others, is said to have a plurality of votes, or a plurality vote. In ecclesiastical law, plurality means the holding two, three, or more benefices by the same incumbent; and he is called a pluralist. Pluralities are now abolished, except in certain cases. 2 Steph. Com. 691, 692.