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legislative branch

legislative branch

14 3.6
The part of government that makes laws
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛdʒɪsleɪtɪv bræntʃ/
  • Formal
translation icon : poder legislativo
  • What are the two legislative branches of Congress called?
  • executive and legislative branch
  • legislative branch of government
  • judicial and legislative branches

But he's been allowed to undermine the judiciary, the legislative branch, the executive branch.

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Examples

  • The executive and legislative branches of the US government are usually responsive to effective pressure groups.

    Academic text (1992)
  • In 1980, the Pentagon sent approximately 170 reports to the legislative branch; by 1988, the number was about 550.

    Academic text (1990)
  • There still are some dedicated foreign policy hands willing to fight to give the legislative branch a voice.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Without question, the legislative branch can review it later and take action as they see fit.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And we really need to bring the legislative branch and the executive branch back together again.

  • In fact, both the executive and legislative branches are attempting to chart a new course for U.S. policy.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Can commitments made by the executive branch be contradicted by the legislative branch?

    Academic text (2003)
  • The Founders envisioned a legislative branch that would deliberate and an executive branch that would act.

    Academic text (1990)
  • This is accomplished by holding regular free and fair elections, imposing term limits, and establishing strong legislative branches and court systems.

  • The legislative branch is responsible for creating laws that govern the country.

Synonyms

parliament
vslegislative branch
449 3.5

The group of people who make and pass a country's laws

is the general government branch for creating laws, not limited to that system
legislature
vslegislative branch
356 5.3

A group of people who make and change the laws of a country or region

is the government branch that performs those lawmaking duties in the system
house
vslegislative branch
  • Formal
166 7.2

An official group of elected people who make laws

is the full government branch covering all chambers and lawmaking bodies
U.S. Congress
vslegislative branch
28 2.5

The part of the United States government that makes laws, made of the Senate and the House of Representatives

is a broader government branch making laws beyond just this national institution
United States Congress
vslegislative branch
  • Formal
24 2.5

A national group of elected people who make United States laws and includes the Senate and House of Representatives

is the broader government lawmaking branch, not only this named body
US Congress
vslegislative branch
  • Formal
10 3.0

A national body that makes laws, including the Senate and the House of Representatives

is the wider government branch that includes this national institution
legislative body
vslegislative branch
  • Formal
8 4.5

An official group of people who make and change laws for a country or state

is the institutional branch that holds and exercises those lawmaking powers
British Parliament
vslegislative branch
8 3.5

A group that makes laws for the United Kingdom with two parts, Commons and Lords

is the wider lawmaking branch, not only this country's specific institution
congress
vslegislative branch
  • Formal
5 3.7

The national group of elected people who make and change laws

is the government branch responsible for lawmaking across levels and institutions
general assembly
vslegislative branch
  • Formal
4 4.9

A group of representatives who make and change laws for a state or organization

is the national government branch focused on making laws rather than internal bodies
legislative assembly
vslegislative branch
  • Formal
1 5.4

A group of elected people who make and change laws for a country or region

is the broader branch of government, not limited to elected assemblies

How Broad

legislative branch
  • Formal
14 3.6
parliament
449 3.5
legislature
356 5.3
city council
88 2.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

legislative + branch

The meaning 'branch of government responsible for making laws' follows directly from combining 'legislative' (relating to lawmaking) with 'branch' (a subdivision), so a learner who knows both words can infer the phrase’s meaning. The adjective+noun compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows standard government terminology, making it immediately transparent to B1 learners.

Etymology

Legislative branch uses the image of a tree: a branch is a part that grows from the trunk, and the legislative part is the one that 'makes laws'. So the phrase means the part of government that 'makes laws'.