legislature
n. countablen. the group of people who have the power to make, change, or remove laws for a country or state. You usually hear this word when people talk about the government or parliament.
n. an organised body of people with the legal authority to enact, amend, and repeal laws for a political unit. Often functions as one branch of government alongside the executive and the judiciary.
The legislature voted to pass the new environmental law.
The proposed tax reform must be approved by the state legislature before it can take effect next year.
In a bicameral system, the legislature is divided into two separate houses, each providing a check on the other's power to ensure more deliberate lawmaking.
1676, from stem of legislator + -ure, cognate with French législature.
Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to a specific national or regional body.