Changes

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*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Century 1644]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Century 1644]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 : the [[action]] of legislating; specifically : the [[exercise]] of the [[power]] and [[function]] of making rules (as [[laws]]) that have the [[force]] of [[authority]] by [[virtue]] of their promulgation by an official organ of a [[state]] or other [[organization]]

*1 : the [[action]] of legislating; specifically : the [[exercise]] of the [[power]] and [[function]] of making rules (as [[laws]]) that have the [[force]] of [[authority]] by [[virtue]] of their promulgation by an official organ of a [[state]] or other [[organization]]

*3 : a matter of [[business]] for or under consideration by a legislative body

*3 : a matter of [[business]] for or under consideration by a legislative body

==Description==

==Description==

'''Legislation''' (or "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory_law statutory law]") is [[law]] which has been promulgated  (or "enacted") by a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislature legislature]  or other [[governing]] [[body]], or the [[process]] of making it. (Another [[source]] of law is [[judge]]-made law or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_law case law].) Before an item of legislation becomes [[law]] it may be known as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_(proposed_law) bill], and may be broadly referred to as "legislation" while it remains under [[consideration]] to distinguish it from other [[business]]. Legislation can have many [[purposes]]: to regulate, to [[authorize]], to proscribe, to provide (funds), to sanction, to grant, to [[declare]] or to restrict.

'''Legislation''' (or "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory_law statutory law]") is [[law]] which has been promulgated  (or "enacted") by a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legislature legislature]  or other [[governing]] [[body]], or the [[process]] of making it. (Another [[source]] of law is [[judge]]-made law or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_law case law].) Before an item of legislation becomes [[law]] it may be known as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_(proposed_law) bill], and may be broadly referred to as "legislation" while it remains under [[consideration]] to distinguish it from other [[business]]. Legislation can have many [[purposes]]: to regulate, to [[authorize]], to proscribe, to provide (funds), to sanction, to grant, to [[declare]] or to restrict.

Under the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_system Westminster system], an item of primary legislation is known as an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Parliament Act of Parliament] after enactment.

Under the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_system Westminster system], an item of primary legislation is known as an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act_of_Parliament Act of Parliament] after enactment.

Legislation is usually proposed by a member of the legislature (e.g. a member of Congress or Parliament), or by the [[executive]], whereupon it is [[debated]] by members of the legislature and is often amended before passage. Most large legislatures enact only a small [[fraction]] of the bills proposed in a given session. Whether a given bill will be proposed and enter into [[force]] is generally a matter of the legislative [[priorities]] of [[government]].

Legislation is usually proposed by a member of the legislature (e.g. a member of Congress or Parliament), or by the [[executive]], whereupon it is [[debated]] by members of the legislature and is often amended before passage. Most large legislatures enact only a small [[fraction]] of the bills proposed in a given session. Whether a given bill will be proposed and enter into [[force]] is generally a matter of the legislative [[priorities]] of [[government]].

Legislation is regarded as one of the three main [[functions]] of [[government]], which are often distinguished under the [[doctrine]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers separation of powers]. Those who have the [[formal]] [[power]] to [[create]] legislation are known as legislators; a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judiciary judicial branch] of government will have the [[formal]] [[power]] to [[interpret]] legislation (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory_interpretation statutory interpretation]); the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_branch executive branch] of [[government]] can act only within the [[powers]] and limits set by the [[law]].

Legislation is regarded as one of the three main [[functions]] of [[government]], which are often distinguished under the [[doctrine]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers separation of powers]. Those who have the [[formal]] [[power]] to [[create]] legislation are known as legislators; a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judiciary judicial branch] of government will have the [[formal]] [[power]] to [[interpret]] legislation (see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory_interpretation statutory interpretation]); the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_branch executive branch] of [[government]] can act only within the [[powers]] and limits set by the [[law]].

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Political Science]]

[[Category: Political Science]]