Legal Definitions - legislative power

Legislative power

The power of Congress to create laws. This means that Congress can discuss and investigate issues that may lead to new laws being made. Congress can also perform other duties that are necessary to create laws, as stated in Article I, Section I of the Constitution.

• Congress creates a new law that requires all cars to have seat belts.
• Congress holds a hearing to discuss the effects of climate change and how it can be addressed through legislation.
• Congress investigates a company for violating environmental regulations, which may lead to new laws being created to prevent similar violations in the future.

These examples illustrate how Congress uses its legislative power to create new laws and address important issues that affect the country. By conducting hearings and investigations, Congress can gather information and opinions from experts and the public to make informed decisions about what laws to create.