Definition
A meeting where all members of a legislative body are present and authorized to conduct business, as opposed to committee meetings. The whole gang shows up, which happens about as often as it sounds like it should.
Example Usage
The constitutional convention held a plenary session to vote on the final draft after months of committee work.
Origin
From Latin 'plenus' (full), entering parliamentary vocabulary in the 19th century
Fun Fact
Many legislatures rarely achieve true plenary attendance even for important votes, making the term more aspirational than descriptive.
Source: Parliamentary procedure documentation
Related Terms
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