1. In a server cluster having plural server nodes implementing a server tier in a client-server computing architecture, a quorum determination system for determining which of two or more partitioned server subgroups has a quorum, comprising: priority determining means for determining relative priorities of said subgroups; said relative priorities being determined by policy rules that evaluate server node application state information; and quorum request means for requesting a quorum based on said relative priorities so that a quorum will only be awarded to a subgroup having a highest relative subgroup priority.