Legislation

Legislation (or “statutory law”) is law that has been enacted by a legislature or other governing body or the process of making it. An item of legislation may be known as a bill while it remains under consideration to distinguish it from other business. Legislation can have many purposes: to regulate, to authorise, to proscribe, to provide, to sanction, to grant, to declare or to restrict.
Legislation may be contrasted with a non-legislative act adopted by an executive or administrative body under the authority of a legislative act or for implementing a legislative act. Under the Westminster system, an item of primary legislation is known as an Act of Parliament after enactment. Legislation is usually proposed by a member of the legislature, such as a member of parliament. It may also be enacted by the executive, whereupon it is debated by members of the legislature and is often amended before passage.
Legislation is regarded as one of the three main functions of government, often distinguished under the doctrine of the separation of powers.