Legislative branch

Summary

A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known as primary legislation. In addition, legislatures may observe and steer governing actions, with authority to amend the budget involved. The members of a legislature are called legislators. In a democracy, legislators are most commonly popularly elected, although indirect election and appointment by the executive are also used, particularly for bicameral legislatures featuring an upper house. The name used to refer to a legislative body varies by country. Common names include: Assembly (from to assemble) Congress (from to congregate) Council (from Latin 'meeting') Diet (from old German 'people') Estates or States (from old French 'condition' or 'status') Parliament (from French parler 'to speak') By names: Chamber of Deputies Chamber of Representatives House of Assembly House of Chiefs House of Representatives Legislative assembly Legislative council National Assembly Senate By languages: Cortes (from Spanish 'courts') Duma (from Russian dúma 'thought') Knesset (from Hebrew 'gathering' or 'assembly') Majlis (from Arabic 'sitting room') Rada (from Ukrainian 'council') Reichstag (from German 'parliament') Landtag Sansad (from Sanskrit 'gathering' or 'assembly') Sejm (from Polish 'gathering') Soviet (from Russian 'council') Thing (from old Germanic 'assembly') Husting (from old Norse 'house thing') Veche (from old Slavic 'council') Though the specific roles for each legislature differ by location, they all aim to serve the same purpose of appointing officials to represent their citizens to determine appropriate legislation for the country. Among the earliest recognised legislatures was the Athenian Ecclesia. In the Middle Ages, European monarchs would host assemblies of the nobility, which would later develop into predecessors of modern legislatures. These were often named The Estates.