DIET, or Dyct, in matters of policy, is used for the general assembly of the states or circles of the empire of Germany and of Poland, to deliberate and concert measures proper to be taken for the good of the public.
The general diet of the empire is usually held at Ratisbon. It consists of the emperor, the nine electors, and the ecclesiastical princes; viz. the archbishops, bishops, abbots, and abbesses; the secular princes, who are dukes, marquises, counts, viscounts, or barons; and the representatives of the imperial cities.—It meets on the emperor's summons, and any of the princes may send their deputies thither in their stead. The diet makes laws, raises taxes, determines differences between the several princes and states, and can relieve the subjects from the oppressions of their sovereigns.
The diet of Poland, or the assembly of the states, consisted of the senate and deputies, or representative of every palatinate or county and city; and usually met every two years, and oftener upon extraordinary occasions, if summoned by the king, or, in his absence, by the archbishop of Gnesna. The general diet of Poland sat but six weeks, and often broke up in a tumult much sooner; for one dissenting voice prevented their passing any laws, or coming to any resolutions, on what was proposed to them from the throne. Switzerland has also a general diet, which is usually held every year at Baden, and represents the whole Helvetic body; it seldom lasts longer than a month. Besides this general diet, there are diets of the Protestant cantons, and diets of the Catholic ones; the first assemble at Araw, and are convoked by the canton of Zurich; the second at Lucern, convoked by the canton of that name.