Legislar

Legislar is a Spanish verb that means to make or enact laws by a legislative body. It covers the process of proposing, debating, and approving norms that have general applicability and is commonly used to describe the activity of parliaments, congresses, or legislative assemblies, referring to both drafting and enacting laws.

Etymology and related terms: legislar derives from the Latin legis, meaning “of the law,” with the suffix -lar, and is cognate with related terms in other Romance languages, such as Portuguese legislar. The noun legislación denotes the body of laws in force, while legislador (masculine) or legisladora (feminine) refers to a person who legislates or a lawmaker.

Usage and process: In many systems, legislar begins with the drafting of a bill, followed by committee discussion, debates, amendments, and votes in the legislature. Once approved, the bill is sent to the head of state for promulgation and publication as law. Some jurisdictions require executive assent or veto, and in some contexts legislar may refer to establishing broad legal frameworks rather than issuing specific regulations.

Variations and scope: The term appears in formal journalism, political science, and legal discourse. While legislar is standard, speakers may also say aprobar una ley, hacer leyes, or legislar/legisla in different conjugations. The concept emphasizes the legislative branch’s authority to establish norms that govern society, distinct from executive implementation or judicial interpretation.