A legislator 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, as is in the United States. Legislators may be supra-national (for example, the European Parliament), 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.

Examples of legislators

• US legislators
  • Congress - Congressperson
    • Senate - Senator
    • House of Representatives - Representative

• UK legislators
  • Parliament
    • House of Commons - Member of Parliament (MP)
    • House of Lords - Lord
  • Scottish Parliament - Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)
  • National Assembly for Wales - Assembly Member (AM)
  • Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly - Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)

See also

• Voting systems