legislative branch
Parliament or Congress
The legislative branch is the part of government that makes laws.
In the United States, this is Congress—the Senate and House of Representatives.
The term appears in civics discussions about separation of powers: The legislative branch passed the bill, but the executive branch refused to enforce it.
Most democratic governments divide authority among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Having two chambers
- House of RepresentativesPopulation-based legislative chamber
- SenateLegislative body, often bicameral's elder
- CapitolLegislative assembly building
- majority leaderParty chief in legislature
minority leader · whip · caucus · committee · subcommittee · hearing · filibuster · cloture
Elected parliamentary chamber
- House of LordsBritain's senior parliamentary body
- MPsParliamentary representatives, abbreviated
- backbenchersOrdinary members of parliament
- question timeLegislative inquiry period
shadow cabinet · opposition · whips · prorogation · dissolution · first reading · royal assent · Westminster
Local governing district
- aldermenElected municipal legislators
- councillorsElected local representatives
- city councilLocal legislative assembly
- town councilMunicipal governing body
borough · ward · mayor · ordinances · zoning · charter · civic · local government
- statutesFormally enacted laws
- enactmentPassing into law
- codificationOrganizing rules into system
- amendmentsFormal changes to documents
resolutions · acts · ratification · veto · lobbying · testimony · deliberation · drafting
One who acts for another
- senatorUpper chamber member
- delegateEntrust authority to another
- constituentMember of electoral district
- districtBounded administrative area
electorate · apportionment · redistricting · gerrymandering · census · term · incumbent · reelection
bicameral
Having two chambers
- House of RepresentativesPopulation-based legislative chamber
- SenateLegislative body, often bicameral's elder
- CapitolLegislative assembly building
majority leader · minority leader · whip · caucus · committee · subcommittee · hearing · filibuster · cloture · markup
House of Commons
Elected parliamentary chamber
- House of LordsBritain's senior parliamentary body
- MPsParliamentary representatives, abbreviated
- backbenchersOrdinary members of parliament
question time · shadow cabinet · opposition · whips · prorogation · dissolution · first reading · royal assent · Westminster · Bundestag
municipality
Local governing district
- aldermenElected municipal legislators
- councillorsElected local representatives
- city councilLocal legislative assembly
town council · borough · ward · mayor · ordinances · zoning · charter · civic · local government · bylaws
bills
- statutesFormally enacted laws
- enactmentPassing into law
- codificationOrganizing rules into system
amendments · resolutions · acts · ratification · veto · lobbying · testimony · deliberation · drafting · sponsor
representative
One who acts for another
- senatorUpper chamber member
- delegateEntrust authority to another
- constituentMember of electoral district
district · electorate · apportionment · redistricting · gerrymandering · census · term · incumbent · reelection · accountability
- civicsballot, election, ballots, Bill of Rights, checks and balances
- governmentgovernment, ministries, judiciary, ministry, ministers
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- U.S. PoliticsCongress, senator, representative, president, vice president
- US GovernmentCongress, House, Senate, presidency, checks and balances
- federal governmentagencies, bureaus, departments, Capitol, White House
legislative branchexecutive branch
Government's implementing arm
judicial branch · presidency · executive power · judicial power · law enforcement
legislative branchexecutive branch
Government's implementing arm
presidency · monarch · dictator · autocrat · chief executive
legislative branchexecutive branch
Government's implementing arm
judicial branch · executive power · judicial power · Supreme Court · White House
branch, legalize, branched, branches, branching, legislation, legislature, legislator, legislate