Definition
Legislation refers to the actions taken with respect to acts, bills, resolutions, or similar items by a legislative body such as Congress, a state legislature, a local governing body, through public referendum, or by constitutional amendment. It encompasses the entire process of crafting, debating, amending, and enacting laws but explicitly excludes actions or rulings by executive, judicial, or administrative bodies.
Examples
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Federal Legislation: The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was passed by Congress in 2010 and signed into law by the President. This represents federal-level legislation aimed at reforming aspects of the healthcare system.
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State Legislation: California’s Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), which addresses employment status for gig economy workers, was passed by the California State Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2019.
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Local Legislation: A city council passing a local ordinance to ban single-use plastics within city limits is an example of local legislation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How does a bill become law in the U.S.? A bill must be passed by both houses of Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate) and then be signed by the President. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses.
2. Can a public referendum create legislation? Yes, in some states and localities, citizens can propose legislation via initiative petitions and enact laws directly through public referendums.
3. What is the difference between legislation and regulation? Legislation refers to laws passed by legislative bodies, whereas regulations are rules made by executive agencies based on authority granted through legislation.
4. What is a constitutional amendment? A constitutional amendment is a formal change or addition to the constitution of a country or state, which typically requires a special process to be enacted.
5. How is state legislation different from federal legislation? State legislation is passed by state legislatures and applies only within that state, while federal legislation applies across the entire country and is passed by the U.S. Congress.
Related Terms
- Bill: A draft of a proposed law presented to a legislature for enactment.
- Act: A bill that has been passed by the legislature and signed into law.
- Resolution: A formal expression of opinion or intention by a legislative body.
- Ordinance: A law or regulation made by a city or town government.
- Amendment: A formal change or addition proposed or made to a bill, law, or constitution.
Online References
- Congress.gov - Official website for U.S. federal legislative information.
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) - Provides data and analysis on state legislative activities.
- The United States Senate - Information about Senate legislation and operations.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “Understanding the Legislative Process: Lawmaking in British Columbia” by Christopher P. Manfredi.
- “Legislative Leviathan: Party Government in the House” by Gary W. Cox and Mathew D. McCubbins.
- “Legislatures: Comparative Perspectives on Representative Assemblies” by Gerhard Loewenberg.
Fundamentals of Legislation: Law and Government Basics Quiz
Thank you for exploring the intricacies of legislation and harnessing the foundational knowledge with our quiz. Continue to deepen your understanding of how laws shape our world!
