Legislature

A legislature is a group in the government who come together and with the power to create and pass laws. Common legislature groups are called parliament and congress. In a parliament, the legislature has ultimate power and elects the leading officials of the country. In the US, the legislature has a similar power to the executive branch, but is fairly independent of it. A legislature usually has the power to raise taxes, change international treaties, and declare war.

A legislature is made up of divisions called houses. The House is the main group of the legislature where laws and bills are voted on and debated. Legislatures are usually either bicameral or unicameral. A bicameral legislature has two chambers or houses.  In some governments the two separate groups share power, but other countries have bicameral houses with differing levels of power. 

In the United States the legislature is called the Congress. The Congress is a bicameral entity made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the US, and most presidential systems of government,  there is power sharing between the two houses. In parliamentary governments there is a lower house (which is the more powerful one) and an upper house (used mainly for advisory purposes).

In the US, all members of the government, including the legislature, are elected by the people. While the president does have veto power over the Congress, the executive branch, including the president, is not officially a part of the legislature. 

Other government’s legislatures have their heads of state as an official part of the body. The head of state in this type of legislature is there to either approve or deny the results of law related debates and votes. 

Some countries have legislatures which are merely figureheads.  The legislature in these types of countries do not typically engage in lengthy debates with varying differences of opinions. These types of government positions are often not seen as having much power, as their votes are primarily votes in favor of the ruling government and not of their own volition.

The legislature is an important part of the government in many countries, however. Only through the open and honest methods of direct representation and debate can a public’s wishes and protection be met. The laws which come forth out of an elected legislature show the will of the general public. The benefit to this type of government is that it can change, grow, or manipulate itself alongside the will of the people it takes care of.  The legislature of this type of government protects its citizens through its laws.