khurals

Khural (Mongolian: хурал) is the Mongolian word for an assembly or meeting. It denotes both traditional communal gatherings and, in modern politics, formal legislative bodies. The term is used for the national parliament in Mongolia—the State Great Khural—as well as for local or regional assemblies, and for historical councils that advised rulers.

Historically, khurals were assemblies of clans and communities to decide on resource use, resolve disputes, elect leaders, and coordinate collective activities such as grazing and defense. A larger assembly, often called a kurultai, served to decide major political matters or install rulers.

In modern Mongolia, the State Great Khural is the unicameral parliament. It typically comprises 76 members elected to four-year terms. The body passes laws, approves the national budget, and exercises oversight of the executive branch. It also elects the Prime Minister and other high officials, and can shape national policy through legislation and oversight.

Local khurals continue to function as customary or administrative gatherings at provincial or community levels, preserving the traditional use of the term alongside formal government institutions. The word remains in use in Mongolian-language contexts to describe assemblies ranging from village meetings to the national legislature, reflecting the historical significance of collective decision-making in Mongolian governance.