Legislation

Definition

The act or process of making laws or a particular law or set of laws.

Parts of Speech

Noun

Pronunciation

American English

IPA Pronunciation: /ˌlɛdʒɪˈsleɪʃən/
Respelling: LEJ-i-SLAY-shun (with "LEJ" as in "ledge," "i" as in "sit," "SLAY" as in "say," and "shun" as in "nation")

British English

IPA Pronunciation: /ˌlɛdʒɪˈsleɪʃən/
Respelling: LEJ-i-SLAY-shun (with "LEJ" as in "ledge," "i" as in "sit," "SLAY" as in "say," and "shun" as in "nation")

In both dialects, "legislation" places the primary stress on the third syllable, "SLAY." The pronunciation is the same across both American and British English, focusing on the clear articulation of "LEJ-i-SLAY-shun."

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word "lēgislātiō", from "lēgis", genitive of "lēx" meaning "law" and "lātiō" meaning "a carrying or proposing", from "lātus", the supine stem of "ferre" meaning "to carry or propose".

Derivatives

Legislate
Legislator
Legislative
Legislature
Legislationary

Synonyms

Statute
Act
Ordinance

Antonyms

Repeal
Abrogation
Annulment

Usage

The legislature plays a vital role in governance, functioning as the main body responsible for creating laws and overseeing the executive branch. It can be bicameral, consisting of two houses, or unicameral, with one house.

Related Terms

Executive: The branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.
Judiciary: The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice.
Bicameral: A legislature with two houses or chambers.
Unicameral: A legislature with one house or chamber.

Detailed Definition

Noun

Legislature (Noun): A deliberative body of persons, usually elected, who are empowered to make, change, or repeal the laws of a country or state.
- Example: "The state legislature passed a new education reform bill."

Legislature (Noun): The body of representatives of a nation or state that makes laws.
- Example: "The federal legislature consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate."