- Have you ever wondered why native speakers say “pass legislation” instead of “make legislation”?
- Do you struggle to find the right adjective to describe a new law being discussed in the news?
- Are you looking for more professional ways to discuss legal frameworks in business or academic writing?
Mastering Legislation Collocations is a vital step for any English learner aiming for professional fluency. In English, words don’t live in isolation; they live in “word partnerships” called collocations. Using the correct verb or adjective with the word “legislation” ensures you sound natural, authoritative, and precise, helping you avoid the “translated” feel that often marks non-native speech.
Essential Collocations using LEGISLATION as a Noun
In modern English, “legislation” is almost exclusively used as a noun. It is an uncountable noun, meaning we do not say “legislations.” Instead, we use specific collocations to describe the process of creating, changing, or following laws.
Verbs that Create or Introduce Legislation
These collocations describe the initial stages of the legal process.
- Draft legislation: To write the first version of a law. “The committee is currently drafting legislation to address climate change.”
- Introduce legislation: To formally present a new law for discussion. “The senator introduced legislation to reform the healthcare system.”
- Propose legislation: To suggest a new law. “Several advocacy groups have proposed legislation regarding data privacy.”
- Sponsor legislation: To officially support and promote a bill. “The bill was sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.”
Verbs that Make Legislation Official
These collocations describe a law actually being finalized and put into effect.
- Pass legislation: When a government body votes to approve a law. “Parliament passed legislation to increase the minimum wage last night.”
- Enact legislation: To make a law part of the official legal system. “The new legislation was enacted earlier this year.”
- Adopt legislation: To formally accept a legal framework or set of rules. “The council voted to adopt legislation on urban planning.”
Verbs for Changing or Removing Legislation
Legal frameworks are not permanent; these collocations describe how they are altered.
- Amend legislation: To make minor changes or improvements to a law. “The government plans to amend legislation governing trade.”
- Repeal legislation: To officially cancel or end a law. “The controversial tax legislation was repealed after public protests.”
- Strike down legislation: When a court rules that a law is no longer valid. “The Supreme Court struck down the legislation, calling it unconstitutional.”
Adjectives Used to Describe Legislation
Use these adjectives to provide more detail about the status or impact of the laws.
- Pending legislation: Laws that are currently being discussed but haven’t passed yet. “Investors are waiting to see the outcome of the pending legislation.”
- Landmark legislation: An incredibly important or historic law. “The Civil Rights Act remains a piece of landmark legislation.”
- Restrictive legislation: Laws that limit or control what people can do. “The company complained about the new, restrictive legislation on exports.”
- Existing legislation: Laws that are already in place. “Under existing legislation, this practice is strictly prohibited.”
Master Summary Table: Key Legislation Collocations
| Collocation | Type | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Draft legislation | Verb + Noun | To write a law. |
| Pass legislation | Verb + Noun | To officially approve a law. |
| Repeal legislation | Verb + Noun | To cancel an old law. |
| Pending legislation | Adjective + Noun | A law waiting for approval. |
| Landmark legislation | Adjective + Noun | A historically important law. |
| Piece of legislation | Noun + Noun | A single, specific law. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Make a legislation | Pass legislation or Draft legislation |
| The legislations are complex | The legislation is complex (Uncountable) |
| A new legislation | A new piece of legislation |
| According to the legislation | Under the legislation |
“The government recently decided to introduce new legislation aimed at protecting domestic industries. While the pending legislation has faced some criticism from international partners, many believe it is a landmark piece of legislation that will provide long-term stability. If the parliament manages to pass the legislation by the end of the quarter, businesses will need to operate under the legislation starting next year.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Legislation Collocations
Is “legislation” a countable or uncountable noun?
Legislation is an uncountable noun. This means you should never say “legislations.” If you want to talk about one specific law, you should use the phrase “a piece of legislation” or “an act.”
What is the difference between “law” and “legislation”?
While often used interchangeably, “legislation” specifically refers to the process of making laws by a legislative body (like Congress or Parliament) or the collective set of laws passed. “Law” is a broader term that can include court rulings and general legal principles.
Do we say “legislation for” or “legislation on”?
Both are used, but they serve different purposes. We usually say “legislation on” or “legislation regarding” a specific topic (e.g., legislation on plastic waste). “Legislation for” is often used when referring to a specific group or purpose (e.g., legislation for small businesses).
Can I use “legislation” as a verb?
No, “legislation” is only a noun. The verb form is “to legislate.” For example: “The government needs to legislate against cybercrime.” However, it is much more common in daily English to use the collocation “pass legislation.”
What does “under the legislation” mean?
This is a formal prepositional collocation meaning “according to the rules set by this specific law.” It is the standard way to describe being governed by a particular set of rules.
What about 'enforce legislation'? Is that correct for when the police or authorities make sure people follow the law?
Exactly, Beatriz! 'Enforce' is the perfect verb for that context. You can also use 'implement legislation' when talking about putting a new law into practice.
Does 'sponsor legislation' mean the same as 'introduce' it? I see American politicians use that word a lot.
The tip about 'legislation' being uncountable is a lifesaver. I used to write 'the legislations of different countries' in my comparative law papers. I'll use 'legal systems' or 'bodies of legislation' instead now.
Perfect adjustments, Isabelle! 'Bodies of legislation' or 'sets of laws' are great ways to express that idea correctly.
In India, we use 'bill' and 'legislation' almost for the same thing. Is a 'bill' just a 'draft legislation'?
I've seen the phrase 'emergency legislation' recently. Does this have special collocations, like 'fast-track'?
Great intuition, Sofie! Yes, we often say 'to fast-track legislation' when the government wants to pass it quickly due to an emergency. It's a very common pairing!
This is very useful for my legal English studies. Is 'drafting' only used for the very first version, or can it be used throughout the process?
I often hear the phrase 'landmark legislation' on CNN. I assume it means something very important or historical?
You're absolutely right, Ji-won! 'Landmark legislation' refers to a law that marks a significant turning point or has a major impact on society.
If a law is old and no longer useful, we say it's 'outdated legislation,' right? Is there a more formal word for that?
I love these collocation posts! Can you do one for 'policy' next? I feel like it's used similarly to legislation but has different partners.
That's a fantastic suggestion, Chloe! We will definitely add 'Policy Collocations' to our content calendar. Stay tuned!
Is it natural to say 'the government is making legislation'? It sounds okay to me, but this article suggests otherwise.