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two-thirds rule

American  
[too-thurdz] / ˈtuˌθɜrdz /

noun

  1. a former rule in the Democratic Party, effective 1832–1936, requiring a vote of at least two thirds of its national convention delegates to nominate a presidential and vice-presidential candidate.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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Under the new two-thirds rule, that will be raised to 10 out of 15 jurors.

From BBC Sep. 17, 2025

Mr. Vairma, the Hoffa-backed candidate for president, supported some of the reform measures as well, including ending the two-thirds rule, and seemed to try to seize the reformist mantle himself at times during the campaign.

From New York Times Nov. 19, 2021

Baumgartner said the two-thirds rule would give the Senate “discipline” that it needs to be able to fully fund education.

From Seattle Times Nov. 14, 2016

The two-thirds rule was dissolved in 1936, which didn’t dissolve convention drama.

From Salon May 14, 2016

Their majority could indeed adopt a platform, but, under the acknowledged two-thirds rule which governs Democratic national conventions, they had not sufficient votes to nominate their candidate.

From A Short Life of Abraham Lincoln Condensed from Nicolay & Hay's Abraham Lincoln: A History by John George Nicolay

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