Okuzeka
Law vocabulary · Legal Systems & Sources of Law

Legislature

Meaning in law, with examples

/ˈledʒɪsleɪtʃə/nounCommon term

In law, legislature means: The elected body, such as a parliament or congress, that has the power to make, change and repeal laws.

In Turkish: yasama organı, kanun koyucu, yasama meclisi

How it is used

Used in constitutional law and when interpreting statutes: courts ask what 'the legislature intended'. Common phrases are 'the national legislature', 'state legislatures' in the US and 'an act of the legislature'. 'Parliament' and 'Congress' are the names of particular legislatures.

Example sentences

  1. If the legislature had wanted to exclude small companies, it would have said so.

  2. The bill now goes to the state legislature for a vote.

Common collocations

  • the national legislature
  • state legislature
  • intention of the legislature
  • the legislature passed
  • legislationLaws as a group, especially those made by a parliament; also the process of making these laws.
  • judiciaryAll the judges of a country considered as a group, and the branch of the state that interprets the law and decides cases.
  • billA draft law presented to a parliament for debate and voting; it becomes an Act or statute only after it has been passed and formally approved.
  • enactTo pass a bill so that it officially becomes law; used of parliaments and other legislative bodies.
  • separation of powersThe principle that the power of the state is divided between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, so that no single branch controls everything.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Legal Systems & Sources of Law

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.