general assembly
4
4.9
- noun
- /ˈdʒɛnərəl əˈsɛmbli/
- Formal
:
asamblea general
- The general assembly has the power to amend existing laws and propose new ones.
- membership in the general assembly
Examples
-
Prior to the general assembly, each sector completes an evaluation of the past year's pastoral activities.
Academic text (1996) -
In the absence of a rival list or strong independent candidates, the general assembly proceeded to elect the entire list headed by Sarraf for a four-year term.
Academic text (2000) -
Also, call a meeting of the general assembly.
-
The co-op holds a general assembly once a month, and decisions are made by consensus or by majority.
Blog text (28) -
The constitution eliminated the religious qualification for service in the general assembly.
Academic text (2009) -
During the general assembly, the lay pastoral agents divide up into small groups to study the proposed plan.
Academic text (1996) -
In Missouri, the general assembly debated passage of the federal ERA.
Academic text (1999) -
In February 1994, ALI's Board of Directors called for a general assembly meeting to vote on the proposed amendments and elect a new Board.
Academic text (2000) -
There are many steps in every state's legislative process, and when a certain party holds a majority in a state general assembly or senate, they will also be the chairs of the committees that control which bills may get hearings and be posted for a vote.
Academic text (2007) -
The governor was also to make sure that, as soon as the colonists could afford it, the general assembly enacted legislation that paid judges "a competent salary."
Academic text (2009)
Synonyms
449
3.5
The group of people who make and pass a country's laws
356
5.3
A group of people who make and change the laws of a country or region
166
7.2
An official group of elected people who make laws
12
3.2
A formal meeting of people who discuss and decide important things
8
4.5
An official group of people who make and change laws for a country or state
1
6.8
A group of people who make laws for a state or country
1
5.4
A group of elected people who make and change laws for a country or region
How Representative
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly built from 'general' (broad, overall) + 'assembly' (a gathering of people), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a broad or official meeting of representatives. The institutional/legal extension (a legislative body) is a predictable, cross-linguistically common development of this composition, making it readily comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
General assembly comes from the idea of a large meeting: general means 'of everyone' and assembly means 'a gathering'. So, it came to mean 'an official group of representatives who meet to make laws and decisions'.