Legislative

Legislative is an adjective relating to the making of laws or to a legislature, the body authorized to draft, debate, and enact legislation. In many political systems, a legislature is a formal assembly of elected representatives that stands as a primary lawmaking institution. Its core functions include proposing bills, debating policy, amending proposed laws, voting on legislation, and, in some contexts, approving budgets and overseeing the executive branch.

The legislative process typically involves several stages. A bill is introduced and assigned to committees for study and revision, followed by floor debate and further amendments. In bicameral systems, both houses must approve the measure, sometimes with reconciliation between chambers. Once enacted, a bill may require executive approval or assent to become law; in some jurisdictions a veto can be overridden by the legislature. Legislation may also include resolutions or ordinances that express policy positions or regulate municipal matters without creating broad statutory law.

Legislatures vary widely in structure and power. Some are unicameral, consisting of a single chamber, while others are bicameral, with two houses. Powers are shaped by constitutional and legal frameworks and may include budget authority, oversight of the executive, appointment confirmations, and treaty ratification. In federal systems, legislation can operate at multiple levels, creating national statutes as well as subnational laws. The term legislative also distinguishes the body or process from the executive and judicial branches in a system of checks and balances.