enact legislation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enact legislation" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe the process where a law is passed or put into practice. For example, "The president called for Congress to enact legislation to address the economic crisis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Beginning in 1839 in Mississippi, states began to enact legislation overriding the disabilities associated with coverture.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But most are happy to let the EU enact legislation on crime, the environment and defence.

The Economist

First, Congress should enact legislation that would put an end to anticompetitive "pay for delay" agreements.

The New York Times

The state promised to enact legislation doing so within a year.

The New York Times

The lawmaker known as "Dr. No" must learn to enact legislation, rather than simply criticizing it.

The New York Times

Mrs. Clinton praised Malaysia's decision to enact legislation intended to help combat nuclear proliferation.

The New York Times

*Congress should enact legislation to hold national elections on a national holiday, like Veterans' Day.

The New York Times

It also advised that state and territories "enact legislation with offences the same or substantially similar".

The Guardian

Yes, the then UK government did enact legislation to allow settlement of sorts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Congress should consider proposals that will promote economic recovery, not enact legislation that inhibits it".

The New York Times

The hope is to enact legislation, he said, but not until after the 2008 election.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about new laws, clearly state which governing body is "enacting legislation" to provide context and accountability.

Common error

Avoid using "enact legislation" when you mean to describe the enforcement of existing laws. "Enact" refers to the creation of the law, while "enforce" refers to its implementation and policing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enact legislation" functions as a verb phrase, where "enact" is the verb indicating the action of making a law, and "legislation" is the noun representing the laws or body of laws being created. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is correct and frequent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Encyclopedias

26%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enact legislation" is a common and grammatically correct term used to describe the process of creating and establishing laws. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly identify the governing body responsible for creating the laws and to distinguish between "enacting" (creating) and "enforcing" (implementing) laws. Alternatives such as "pass a law" or "legislate" may be suitable depending on the desired level of formality and specificity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pass a law

This alternative uses simpler language, focusing on the action of "passing" a law.

establish a law

This phrase emphasizes the creation and setting up of a law.

legislate

This is a single-word verb form meaning to create laws.

legislate a bill

This alternative specifies the type of legislation being created, a "bill".

promulgate a law

This alternative suggests formally proclaiming or putting a law into effect.

adopt a statute

This alternative uses a more formal term, "statute", for law.

implement legislation

While "enact" focuses on the creation, "implement" focuses on putting the law into action.

ordain a regulation

Suggests formally establishing a rule or regulation.

decree a law

This implies a formal and authoritative order that becomes law.

authorize legislation

Focuses on the act of granting the power to create legislation.

FAQs

How is "enact legislation" used in a sentence?

The phrase "enact legislation" is used to describe the process by which a governing body creates and puts a law into effect. For example, "Congress must "enact legislation" to reform the healthcare system."

What are some alternatives to "enact legislation"?

Alternatives to "enact legislation" include "pass a law", "legislate", or "establish a law" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "enact legislation" and "implement legislation"?

Yes, "enact legislation" refers to the creation of a law, while "implement legislation" refers to putting the law into practice or enforcing it. The terms are related but describe different stages of the law-making process.

What is the difference between "enact law" and "enact legislation"?

While both phrases are similar, "enact legislation" is generally used to refer to the entire body of laws or the process of creating laws, whereas "enact law" can refer to the act of passing a single specific law.