Legal Definitions - legislation

Legislation refers to the process of creating and passing laws by a legislative body. This process involves evaluating, amending, and voting on proposed laws. The goal is to create laws that communicate the values, judgments, and purposes of the proposal.

For example, a group of legislators may propose a bill to increase funding for public schools. The bill would go through a process of evaluation and amendment before being voted on by the legislative body. If the bill is passed, it becomes a law that requires the government to allocate more funds to public schools.

Ideas for legislation can come from a variety of sources, including legislators, interest groups, and organizations like the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. These groups may propose bills that address specific social or economic issues.

The process of enacting legislation is governed by the relevant constitution. When a bill is introduced, it is referred to a committee for evaluation. If the committee recommends that the bill be passed, it is placed on the agenda for action by the full legislative body. After a lengthy process of deliberation and debate, legislators vote on the final passage of the bill.

Once a bill is approved by both houses of a bicameral legislature and signed by the executive, it becomes a law. For example, if a bill to increase the minimum wage is passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives and signed by the President, it becomes a law that requires employers to pay their workers a higher wage.