plenária

Plenária is a term used in Portuguese to designate a plenary meeting or session, in which the full body participates, as well as the chamber or assembly where such sessions take place. The feminine form plenária is often used to refer to the full assembly itself or to events organized by the entire group, such as a plenária of delegates or members.

In practice, plenárias occur in various contexts, including politics, administration, academia, unions and associations. A plenária session typically involves debate, voting on proposals, and the election of officials or policies. It serves as a forum for the broad representation of the group, contrasting with meetings held only by committees or subgroups. Quorum rules, order of speaking, time limits, and the preparation of minutes or reports are common features of plenary proceedings.

In political and judicial institutions, the term plenário or plenária denotes the full assembly or court. For example, a legislative plenary is the session where all elected representatives vote on laws, while a court’s plenário refers to the full bench that sits for major rulings. In these settings, decisions usually follow formal rules and require a majority or supermajority, depending on the jurisdiction and the matter at hand.

Etymology traces plenária to the Latin plenarius, meaning full. Related terms include plenary session and plenary assembly, found in many languages to describe the complete gathering of a deliberative body.