legislated

Legislated is the past participle of legislate, meaning to create or enact laws by a legislative body. In standard use, something that is legislated is a policy, rule, or measure that has been enacted into law by a legislative process and is now enforceable under the jurisdiction's statutes.

Legislation typically involves several stages: proposal as a bill, committee review, debates and votes in one or both houses, and final approval by an executive authority, such as a president or monarch, sometimes with a referendum. If approved, the measure becomes law and is codified as statutes and regulations. The exact steps and requirements vary by country and region.

Legislation and implementation are related but distinct. Legislation refers to the creation of laws, while administration and enforcement apply those laws. Some rules originate as regulations issued by government agencies under authority granted by legislated statutes; regulations interpret and operationalize the broader law.

Usage and context: The term is common in legal and political discourse. Examples include phrases like “the government legislated a nationwide minimum wage” or “the act was legislated in 2018.” Etymology traces to Latin lex, legis meaning “law,” with later forms entering English through various intermediaries.