採決

• Reading: さいけつ
• Romaji: saiketsu
• Kanji breakdown: 採 (sai) — pick, gather, adopt; 決 (ketsu) — decide, determine
• Pronunciation: /sai.ke.tsɯ/

Meaning

Vote; ballot; putting a matter to a vote. The act of voting on a proposal or motion in a formal assembly.

A noun and suru-verb referring to the act of taking a vote on a proposal in a legislative body or formal meeting. Distinguished from 投票 (touhyou, general voting/balloting) — 採決 specifically refers to the procedural act of putting a matter to a vote in parliament or a committee. Often used with 強行 (kyoukou, forced) to describe controversial forced votes: 強行採決 (kyoukou saiketsu).

Examples

1. 法案の採決が明日行われる予定だ。 A vote on the bill is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
2. 議長は採決を求めたが、野党が反対した。 The speaker called for a vote, but the opposition objected.
3. 多数決で採決が行われ、賛成が過半数を超えた。 A majority vote was held, and the ayes exceeded half.

Usage Guide

Context: parliament, legislation, meetings

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 採 (sai, pick/adopt) + 決 (ketsu, decide/determine). Literally 'to pick and decide' — determining the outcome by collecting votes.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal