interpellation

American  

[in-ter-puh-lay-shuhn, in-tur-puh-] / ˌɪn tər pəˈleɪ ʃən, ɪnˌtɜr pə- /

noun

1. a procedure in some legislative bodies of asking a government official to explain an act or policy, sometimes leading, in parliamentary government, to a vote of confidence or a change of government.

2. Sociology. a system of maintaining power over a population by imposing beliefs, values, and norms on that population rather than using force.

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Etymology

Origin of interpellation

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin interpellātiōn-, stem of interpellātiō “interruption.” See interpellate, -ion

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

interpellation

The Government consented to listen to an interpellation on the sardine-packers' strike in Brittany, but the Right Opposition objected and showed their antipathy by banging their desk-lids and shouting.

From Time Magazine Archive

A walkout of coal miners at Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, last month, was the subject of an interpellation in the House of Commons at Ottawa.

From Time Magazine Archive

Had the old fox told his Deputies to vote for interpellation?

From Time Magazine Archive

In any event, there is no debate, and in this respect the English practice differs from the French "interpellation."

From The Governments of Europe by Frederic Austin Ogg

The words themselves are not strictly consecutive, but, by the interpellation of certain other words, a series of intelligible sentences is obtained, the meaning of which is not very clear, but is no doubt allegorical.

From John Thorndyke's Cases related by Christopher Jervis and edited by R. Austin Freeman by R. Austin (Richard Austin) Freeman

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