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veches

Veches refers to the popular assemblies that governed certain East Slavic towns in the medieval period, most notably Novgorod and Pskov. The term is the plural of vech, from Old East Slavic veče, meaning “assembly” or “council.”

Origins and context: Veches emerged as a form of direct citizen involvement in decision making. They were

Membership and procedure: The assemblies were open to free male residents; attendance was often summoned by

Functions and politics: In Novgorod and Pskov, the veche could elect or confirm city magistrates, such as

Decline and legacy: As centralized rule strengthened under the Grand Duchy of Moscow and other principalities,

typically
convened
in
times
of
crisis
or
for
major
issues
such
as
declaring
war,
making
peace,
approving
taxes,
or
appointing
magistrates.
bells
or
proclamations.
Decisions
were
usually
made
by
consensus
or
by
majority,
with
a
presiding
elder
or
spokespersons
representing
different
factions.
a
posadnik,
and
had
influence
over
the
appointment
of
officials
and
the
negotiation
of
treaties.
The
precise
powers
varied
by
city
and
period
and
were
shaped
by
the
balance
of
elites
and
the
strength
of
external
threats.
the
formal
political
role
of
veches
diminished,
and
the
institutions
faded
by
the
late
medieval
era.
The
veche
remains
a
symbol
of
early
participatory
governance
in
East
Slavic
history
and
is
studied
as
part
of
political
and
social
history.