legislature
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
A group of people elected or appointed to make laws for a country or region.
The institution or building where such a group meets; the branch of government responsible for creating statutory laws.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers to the collective body, not individual members (who are legislators). Often used interchangeably with 'parliament' or 'congress' in specific contexts, but is the broader, more generic term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Parliament' (specifically Houses of Parliament) is the more common specific term. In the US, 'Congress' (comprising House of Representatives and Senate) is the specific federal legislature. 'Legislature' is used generically for both and for state-level bodies.
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both varieties. Slightly more common in US English when referring to state governments (e.g., 'the state legislature').
Frequency
High frequency in political, legal, and news contexts. Less common in everyday conversation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The/Adj.] legislature + verb (passed, approved, rejected, convened)in/through/within/by the legislatureVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the wheels of the legislature grind slowly”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in regulatory or government affairs contexts (e.g., 'The new tax law proposed by the legislature will affect our imports.')
Academic
Common in political science, law, history, and sociology texts.
Everyday
Used in news reports and discussions about politics.
Technical
Standard in legal documents, constitutional law, and political commentary.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The assembly will legislate on the matter next session.
American English
- Congress failed to legislate a solution before the recess.
adverb
British English
- The measure was passed legislatively, not by executive order.
American English
- The issue must be addressed legislatively at the state level.
adjective
British English
- The legislative process in the UK involves three readings.
American English
- The bill is now before the legislative committee.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The government makes laws in the legislature.
- The new law was debated in the state legislature for weeks.
- A bicameral legislature, like the US Congress, has two separate chambers.
- The ruling party's thin majority in the legislature jeopardised the passage of its flagship policy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: LEGISLATURE makes LEGISLATION. Both start with 'legis-' relating to law.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MACHINE (e.g., 'the legislature grinds to a halt'), A BODY/ORGAN (e.g., 'the legislative branch').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'законодательство' (which is 'legislation'). Legislature is 'законодательный орган' or 'легислатура'.
- Avoid confusing with 'executive' (исполнительная власть) or 'judiciary' (судебная власть).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'legislation' (the laws) instead of 'legislature' (the body that makes them).
- Pronouncing it as /leɡɪsˈleɪtʃə/ (stress on third syllable).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a legislature?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Legislature' is the institution or group that makes laws. 'Legislation' refers to the laws themselves that have been made.
Yes, but specifically. All parliaments are legislatures, but not all legislatures are called parliaments (e.g., the US Congress is a legislature).
Typically, it refers to the primary law-making body at a national or state/provincial level. Local councils or municipalities are usually not called legislatures.
Yes. You can refer to 'a legislature' (one specific body) or 'legislatures' (multiple bodies).
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