zakonodavni

Zakonodavni is an adjective used in several South Slavic languages to denote anything related to the making of laws. It derives from zakon (law) with the suffix -odavni, and is applied to institutions, processes and powers involved in legislation. In political science and constitutional law, the term appears in phrases such as zakonodavna vlast (the legislative power), zakonodavno telo (a legislative body), and zakonodavni postupak or zakonodavni proces (the process of lawmaking).

The legislative branch is responsible for drafting, debating, amending and enacting statutes. It often represents the electorate and may exercise oversight over the executive, for example through inquiries, budget scrutiny and confidence votes. In many countries, the legislative power is organized as bicameral or unicameral: a single house or two houses with distinct roles in proposal, revision and approval of laws. Legislative bodies typically interact with the executive through mechanisms such as vetoes, sanctions and the requirement of promulgation for a bill to become law.

The legislative procedure usually includes several stages: introduction of a bill, committee examination, readings and debates, potential amendments, voting, and, in bicameral systems, reconciliation between chambers. After adoption, laws are often promulgated by the head of state and published in an official gazette. In federal states, both national and subnational legislatures may participate in lawmaking, with certain competences allocated to each level. The term zakonodavni thus covers both formal institutions and the act of lawmaking itself.