In a modern
democracy, the group of
elected representatives who exercise the
legislative power. In some
countries, the legislative assembly is split in two groups or
houses, the second of which (sometimes called the
Senate, as in
France and the
United States) is composed of more experienced
statesmen and is supposed to act as a moderating influence on the first assembly. In most
countries, the
head of state has the right to
veto laws passed by the legislative assembly.
See also the French Legislative Assembly of 1791 - 1792.
