legislature
Assembly enacting statutes
A legislature is a governmental body with the power to make, change, and repeal laws.
In the United States, Congress is the national legislature, while each state has its own.
Legislatures typically deliberate and vote on proposed legislation: The legislature passed the bill after months of debate.
Most democracies have legislatures, though their structure and power vary widely.
National legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
- houseResidential building
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
- bicameralHaving two chambers
unicameral · upper house · lower house · assembly · diet · general assembly · city council
Amount owed, written
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- amendmentChange to official text
- motionChange in position
- readingInterpreting written text
markup · filibuster · cloture · reconciliation · floor vote · roll call · voice vote · pocket veto
Scheduled time for activity
- termFixed period or word
- conveningFormally gathering together
- adjournmentTemporary suspension of proceedings
- quorumMinimum for valid proceedings
plenary · recess · lame duck · special session · joint session · opening · gaveling · calendar
One who acts for another
- senatorUpper chamber member
- delegateEntrust authority to another
- deputyAuthorized substitute or assistant
- memberOne who belongs
parliamentarian · assemblyman · assemblywoman · backbencher · frontbencher · whip · speaker · majority leader
Crafting enforceable rules
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- appropriationUnauthorized claiming or allocation
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- impeachmentCharging officials with misconduct
ratification · investigation · subpoena · hearing · testimony · checks and balances · advice and consent · war powers
Member of electoral district
- districtBounded administrative area
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
- apportionmentDivision into shares
campaign · primary · midterm · ballot · electorate · candidacy · nomination · runoff
parliament
National legislative assembly
bicameral · unicameral · upper house · lower house · assembly · diet · general assembly · city council
bill
Amount owed, written
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- amendmentChange to official text
- motionChange in position
reading · markup · filibuster · cloture · reconciliation · floor vote · roll call · voice vote · pocket veto · override
session
Scheduled time for activity
- termFixed period or word
- conveningFormally gathering together
- adjournmentTemporary suspension of proceedings
quorum · plenary · recess · lame duck · special session · joint session · opening · gaveling · calendar · docket
representative
One who acts for another
- senatorUpper chamber member
- delegateEntrust authority to another
- deputyAuthorized substitute or assistant
member · parliamentarian · assemblyman · assemblywoman · backbencher · frontbencher · whip · speaker · majority leader · minority leader
lawmaking
Crafting enforceable rules
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
- appropriationUnauthorized claiming or allocation
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
impeachment · ratification · investigation · subpoena · hearing · testimony · checks and balances · advice and consent · war powers · redistricting
constituent
Member of electoral district
- districtBounded administrative area
- precinctAdministrative jurisdiction zone
- gerrymanderingManipulating electoral boundaries strategically
apportionment · campaign · primary · midterm · ballot · electorate · candidacy · nomination · runoff · turnout
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- political sciencepolitical science, political theory, political behavior, political economy, political institutions
- Greek Politicsjunta, military junta, colonels, coalition government, ministers
- political bodiesgovernment, parliament, senate, cabinet, council
- African Governmentparliament, judiciary, executive, presidency, ministers
legislaturejudiciary
Law-interpreting government branch
executive · judicial branch · executive branch · supreme court · administration
legislaturedictatorship
Unchecked single-ruler government
autocracy · tyranny · monarchy · authoritarian regime · one-man rule
- state legislatureLawmaking body below Congress
- federal legislatureNational law-making assembly