legislature
The lawmaking body of a government
Examples
In a meeting
“We're monitoring what the state legislature does with the proposed tax reforms.”
Over coffee
“The legislature is voting on the education bill next week.”
Why this word
congress
Legislature is the general term for any law-making body, while congress specifically refers to certain national legislatures like the US Congress
government
Legislature is specifically the branch that makes laws, while government includes all branches (executive, legislative, judicial)
assembly
Legislature specifically refers to the official law-making body, while assembly can mean any gathering or meeting of people
Usage tip
Use to refer to Congress, Parliament, state assemblies, or any official lawmaking body. More precise than 'government.'
Etymology
Latin 'legis' (law) + 'lator' (proposer) — law-proposers
Get a new word every morning
One precise word per day. Under 60 seconds to read. Free forever.
Related words
enjoin
To legally prohibit or order someone to do or not do something
proscribe
To officially forbid or condemn something
severability
The legal principle that if one part of a contract is invalid, the rest remains enforceable
quorum
The minimum number of members required to be present for valid proceedings
recuse
To remove oneself from a decision due to conflict of interest or bias
culpable
Deserving blame or held responsible for wrongdoing