legislative power
Congress's constitutional function
Legislative power is the authority to make, amend, and repeal laws.
In constitutional systems, this power typically resides in a legislature—Congress, Parliament, or similar body—as distinct from executive power (enforcing laws) and judicial power (interpreting them).
The Constitution vests legislative power in Congress.
The separation of these powers is fundamental to democratic governance.
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
- voteFormal choice expression
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- lawmakingCrafting enforceable rules
- lawmaking bodyAssembly that enacts statutes
assembly · constitutionalism · parliament · veto override · rule of law · amendment process · executive veto · oversight committees · committee review · senate · lobby · floor · committee hearing · majority rule · veto · bill · roll call vote · quorum
- constitutional lawConstitution, Bill of Rights, First Amendment, Second Amendment, Fourth Amendment
- ConstitutionBill of Rights, preamble, articles, U.S. Constitution, Article I
- constitutional governmentseparation of powers, checks and balances, branches of government, executive branch, judicial branch
- government powerswar powers, pardon, pardons, eminent domain, impeachment
- parliamentparliament, bills, votes, vote, debate
- Irish Constitutionpreamble, articles, constitutional amendments, referendum process, fundamental rights
legislative powerexecutive power
Government's enforcement capacity
judicial power · executive authority · judicial authority · police power · court jurisdiction
legislative powerroyal decree
Official order from sovereign
autocratic rule · rule by decree · martial law · emergency powers · divine right
legislative powerjudicial review
Courts invalidating unconstitutional acts
veto power · checks and balances · separation of powers · civil liberties · individual rights