Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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National assembly
(1,381 words)

1. Concept

A national assembly is a popular representative body that meets as a legislature (Parliament) to debate and decide fundamental issues of state. In the case of constituent assemblies, those issues generally relate to establishing the institutional basis for the political organization of a nation, specifically promulgating a constitution. Where they meet in conditions of disruption to state power, their legitimacy is often disputed.…

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Best, Heinrich, “National assembly”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 22 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_024585>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20200128



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