The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel. It is the supreme state body and has total control over the entirety of the Israeli government, with the exception of checks and balances from the courts and local governments. The Knesset is responsible for legislating laws and revising them as necessary, establishing a government, taking policy decisions, reviewing government activities, and electing the President of the State and the State Comptroller.

The term "Knesset" is derived from the ancient Knesset HaGdola, which according to Jewish tradition was an assembly of 120 scribes, sages, and prophets, in the period from the end of the Biblical prophets to the time of the development of Rabbinic Judaism – about two centuries ending c. 200 BCE. Members of the Knesset are elected nationwide through proportional representation, and the Knesset has 120 members.

The Knesset first convened on February 14, 1949, in Jerusalem following the 20 January elections, replacing the Provisional State Council which acted as Israels official legislature from its date of independence on 14 May 1948 and succeeding the Assembly of Representatives that had functioned as the Jewish communitys representative body during the Mandate era.

In summary, the Knesset is the name for Israels parliament, or legislature, located in the capital Jerusalem. Its major function is to legislate laws and revise them as necessary, and it is responsible for establishing a government, taking policy decisions, reviewing government activities, and electing the President of the State and the State Comptroller.