probouleutic

English

Etymology

pro- +‎ bouleutic

Adjective

probouleutic (not comparable)

1. Relating to the Ancient Greek council, which held preliminary discussions before submitting matters to the general assembly.
   • 1889, Theodor Mommsen, Clement Bryans, Frederick James Roberts Hendy, The History of the Roman Republic, page 276:

     The full probouleutic power of the senate was restored; no proposal could henceforth be submitted to the people, unless it had first been approved by the senate.

   • 1966, Jakob Aall Ottesen Larsen, Representative Government in Greek and Roman History, page 97:

     It is so easy to think that a boule must involve probouleutic activity. This normally meant that a boule not only considered in advance the subjects to be dealt with in the meetings of the assembly, but actually drew up the bills to be voted on by the assembly.

   • 1968, California Studies in Classical Antiquity, page 266:

     That is, to Aristotle the existence of a probouleutic body of some kind required no explanation, though the reason for its actual composition in any given city was a valid historical question.

2. (UK, by extension) Pertaining to preliminary discussion before discussion in council, parliament, or other public debate.
   • 1921, The Scottish Historical Review - Volume 18, page 165:

     Their probouleutic function is in place when Parliament does not proceed by commission, and when business must be digested for a house reluctant to remain long in attendance.

   • 2004, James Daybell, Women and politics in early modern England, 1450-1700, page 75:

     This probouleutic (primary discussion) format worked alongside Elizabeth's informal and ad hoc consultations with individuals.

   • 2005, Natalie Mears, Queenship and Political Discourse in the Elizabethan Realms, →ISBN, page 36:

     Even when probouleutic discussion was opened up to a larger number of individuals - as on 6 October - meetings continued to operate independently of the privy council. Restricting probouleutic debate to a small group of personally selected councillors was particularly appropriate for an issue - Elizabeth's marriage - which she defined as one of the arcana imperii ('mysteries of state') reserved for her own judgement qand on which she had sought to restrict debate in council, parliament and public debate since her accession.