Legal Definitions - pair

Definition: A pair is a term used in parliamentary law to refer to two voters, usually legislators, on opposite sides of an issue who agree that they will abstain if either cannot vote on the issue. A pair is usually announced and recorded.

Example: In a legislative body, if a member cannot vote on an issue due to absence or illness, they can request a pair with a member who would have voted opposite to them. This means that if the absent member had been present, their vote would have cancelled out the vote of the opposing member. By pairing, both members abstain from voting, and the outcome of the vote remains the same.

This example illustrates how a pair works in parliamentary law. It allows for absent members to have their vote represented without affecting the outcome of the vote.