popular will; will of the people
Refers to the collective opinion or desire of the general public, often in political or social contexts.
The government should promote policies that reflect the will of the people.
The election results are an expression of the popular will.
The government decided to gauge the popular will through an election.
This policy does not reflect the will of the people.
The government passed the bill in disregard of the popular will.
In a democracy, respecting the will of the people is important.
総意 means the unanimous or collective opinion of a group, while 民意 is used specifically for the will of the general populace, especially in politics.
民意 focuses on the will or wishes of the people (e.g. in elections), whereas 国論 refers more broadly to the nation's collective opinion on an issue.
Compound of 民 (people) and 意 (mind, thought). The reading is on'yomi, and the word is a Sino-Japanese term.