legislate

Legislate is a verb meaning to make or enact laws. In democratic governance, a legislature or equivalent body legislates by drafting, debating, amending, and voting on proposed laws, typically called bills. Once enacted, these laws form the body of law that governs a state, region, or organization; the act of legislating also refers to the ongoing process of updating or repealing existing statutes.

Originated from Latin lex, “law,” and agere, “to act,” the term entered English in the late medieval period to describe formal lawmaking. The related noun legislation refers to the process itself and the body of laws produced.

Process typically follows a cycle of proposal, committee consideration, debate, and votes. If a bill passes one chamber of a bicameral legislature, it may move to another chamber and undergo amendments. After final approval, an executive authority—such as a president, governor, or monarch—often must grant assent, though some jurisdictions allow enactment by publication or automatic effect after a waiting period. Implementation may rely on subordinate regulations or administrative actions to fill in details.

Scope and form vary by jurisdiction. Legislation can address substantive rules, procedural requirements, budgets, taxation, or public policy objectives. Laws may be categorized as statutes, acts, or ordinances, and can be amended, amended again, or repealed by future legislation. Clarity and foreseeability in legislative drafting are typically emphasized to reduce ambiguity and facilitate enforcement and judicial interpretation.

Geographic and institutional variation shapes how legislating occurs. Some countries have unicameral legislatures; others have bicameral systems with different roles for executives, legislatures, and courts in enacting and interpreting laws.