an assembly or council having the highest deliberative and legislative functions.-a body of elders appointed or elected from among the nobles of the nation, and having supreme legislative authority.-the upper and less numerous branch of a legislature in various countries, as in france, in the united states, in most of the separate states of the united states, and in some swiss cantons.-in general, a legislative body; a state council; the legislative department of government.-the governing body of the universities of cambridge and london.-in some american colleges, a council of elected students, presided over by the president of the college, to which are referred cases of discipline and matters of general concern affecting the students.