The term "Knesset" is derived from the ancient Knesset HaGdola (Hebrew: כְּנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה) or "Great Assembly", 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.

[9] There is, however, no organisational continuity and aside from the number of members, there is little similarity, as the ancient Knesset was a religious, completely unelected body.

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

[10] Before the construction of its current location, the Knesset met in Tel Aviv,[10] before moving to the Froumine building in Jerusalem.

[11] The Knesset compound sits on a hilltop in western Jerusalem in a district known as Sheikh Badr before the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, now Givat Ram.

The main building was financed by James de Rothschild as a gift to the State of Israel in his will and was completed in 1966.

It also has the power to waive the immunity of its members, remove the president and the State Comptroller from office, and to dissolve itself and call new elections.

To further their deliberations, they invite non-voting people, like government ministers, senior officials, and experts in the matter being discussed.

Parliamentary inquiry committees are appointed by the plenum to deal with issues viewed as having special national importance.

[21] Knesset members often join in formal or informal groups known as "lobbies" or "caucuses", to advocate for a particular topic.

All Israeli citizens 18 years or older may vote in legislative elections, which are conducted by secret ballot.

The prime minister-designate has 42 days to put together a viable government (extensions can be granted and often are), and then must win a vote of confidence in the Knesset before taking office.

The Knesset holds morning tours in Hebrew, Arabic, English, French, Spanish, German, and Russian on Sunday and Thursday, and there are also live session viewing times on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings.

Almost three quarters of Israelis surveyed said corruption in Israel's political leadership was either "widespread or somewhat prevalent".