legislature

[lej-is-ley-cher]

noun

1. a deliberative body of persons, usually elective, who are empowered to make, change, or repeal the laws of a country or state; the branch of government having the power to make laws, as distinguished from the executive and judicial branches of government.

legislature

/ ˈlɛdʒɪsˌleɪtʃə /

noun

1. a body of persons vested with power to make, amend, and repeal laws Compare executive judiciary

Other Word Forms

• sublegislature noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of legislature¹

First recorded in 1670–80; legislat(or) + -ure

Example Sentences

While GOP gerrymanders have locked in control of the state legislature and the congressional delegation, races for statewide office are often fairly close calls.

From Salon

The campaign will be a sprint — glossy multi-page mailers arrived in Californians’ mailboxes before the state legislature voted in late August to call the special election.

From Los Angeles Times

Three decades later, this is where we are: A small library in Donnelly, Idaho, has been forced to become “adults only” to comply with House Bill 710, passed by the state’s Republican legislature.

From Salon

With no Democrats holding statewide office and a GOP supermajority in the legislature, Bailey has turned his fire on Democratic officials in Missouri’s two largest cities.

From Salon

The strategy has allowed his administration to sidestep state legislatures and Congress, according to legal experts and critics.

From Salon

Related Words

• body 
• chamber 
• house 
• parliament