parliament

noun6

1. •
   a group of people chosen by the voters of a country to make laws and watch the government

   • The row started over who will run for parliament in a wealthy rightwing constituency on the left bank in Paris, a safe seat for Sarkozy's ruling UMP. — 2011
2. •
   A particular assembly of the members of such a legislature, as convened for a specific purpose or period of time (commonly designated with an ordinal number – for example, first parliament or 12th parliament – or a descriptive adjective – for example, Long Parliament, Short Parliament and Rump Parliament).

   • Following the general election, Jane Doe took her oath of office as a member of the nation's fifth parliament.
3. •
   (historical) A formal council summoned (especially by a monarch) to discuss important issues.

   • By the 13th Century, a parliament was when kings met up with English barons to raise cash for fighting wars - mostly against Scotland. — 2014
4. •
   a length of time for which a parliament is summoned, in modern times therefore the period between two consecutive elections.

   • This parliament has been more scandal-filled than any other in history.
5. •
   A gathering of birds, especially rooks or owls.

   • He'd seen a parliament of rooks a hundred strong fall on and kill one of their number amongst the nodding barley rows, and had been shown a yew that had the face of Jesus in its bark. — 2016
6. •
   (historical) Parliament cake, a type of gingerbread.

   • A certain boy leaning up against me would not allow my elbow room, and struck me very sadly in the stomach part, though his own was full of my parliament. — 1869