üldkoosolekus

Üldkoosolekus is a term from Estonian political and legislative context that refers to a general assembly or general meeting. The word is a compound of üld (general, common) and koosolek (meeting, assembly). It is used primarily to describe gatherings of members of a legislative body, like the Riigikogu, the parliament of Estonia, or other representative assemblies, where the entire membership convenes to discuss and decide on important issues, such as the adoption of major legislation, the election of leadership, or the review of key policies.

In modern Estonian law, the general assembly is the highest authority within a legislative body. Its procedural rules are specified in the parliamentary procedure and can be found in the statute of the Riigikogu, as well as in the procedural codes of municipalities, universities and other entities with representative bodies. It may also refer to specialized assemblies, such as in education, where representatives of teachers, students and parents mutually decide on curricular and governance matters.

Historically, the concept of üldkoosolekus traces back to the early 20th century when the Estonian populace was carving out its institutions during the first establishment of independence. During the interwar period, it was a primary venue for democratic deliberation. After the Soviet occupation, legitimate assemblies were dissolved, but the concept persisted and was revived after Estonia regained independence in 1991. In contemporary practice, the general assembly is seen as an essential democratic mechanism to ensure participation of elected representatives in decision‑making, thereby reinforcing the principles of transparency, accountability and collective responsibility.