Legislator
A
legislator (or
lawmaker) is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a
legislature. Legislators are usually
politicians and are often elected by the people. Legislatures may be supra-national (for example, the
United Nations General Assembly), national (for example, the US
Congress), regional (for example, the
Scottish Parliament) or local (for example,
local authorities).
The
political theory of the
separation of powers requires legislators to be different individuals from the members of the
executive and the
judiciary. Certain political systems adhere to this principle, others do not. In the
UK, for example, the executive is formed almost exclusively from legislators (members of
Parliament) although the judiciary is mostly independent (the
Lord Chancellor uniquely is a legislator, a member of the executive (indeed, the
Cabinet), and a
judge).
In French
jurisprudence and legal discussion, "the legislator" (
le législateur) is the abstract entity which has produced the laws. When there is room for interpretation, the intents of the legislator will be questioned, and the court is supposed to rule in the direction that it judges to fit the legislative intent the best — which can be uneasy, in the case of conflicting laws or constitutional provisions.
*US legislatures
**
Congress of the United States -
Congress/man/woman/person or Member of Congress
***
United States Senate (Or State Senates) -
Senator***
House of Representatives - Representative
*UK legislatures
**
Parliament of the United Kingdom -
Member of Parliament (MP)
***
House of Commons - (MP)
***
House of Lords -
Lord**
Scottish Parliament -
Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
**
National Assembly for Wales - Assembly Member / Aelod y Cynulliad (AM/AC)
**
Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly -
Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
*
Voting systems*
Legislature
