take legislative action

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take legislative action" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the process of enacting laws or regulations by a legislative body. Example: "In response to the growing environmental concerns, the government decided to take legislative action to address the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

The Dodd-Frank and OECD guidelines need global strengthening and enforcement – for instance, the EU should also take legislative action, and OECD members should reinforce their national legislation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Boehner also floated the idea that he would take legislative action.

The New York Times

Not 10 years later, Speaker Boehner assumed leadership of a House which vigorously obstructed any effort by President Obama to take legislative action on anything.

The Guardian - Opinion

He also revealed he was taking executive steps to help America defend itself from cyber-attacks from abroad and urged Congress to take legislative action for the same purpose.

Independent

In "The Climate War," which ends with the Copenhagen summit, Mr. Pooley gives us a detailed, if sometimes longwinded, account of the political battle to get Congress to take legislative action on global warming.

The New York Times - Books

It's clearly going to take legislative action to catalyze private investment and to increase federal research to where it should be — about $25 billion a year, according to Mark Muro of the Brookings Institution.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The rules say only that lawmakers should not take legislative actions whose primary purpose is to benefit themselves.

The New York Times

Mr. Issa and Ms. Maloney said in a statement on Monday that they "will not be taking legislative action" on the Research Works Act, which has no other sponsors.

The New York Times - Science

He added, "I'm convinced the only way we're going to make a meaningful difference for consumers is by taking legislative action".

The New York Times

But taking legislative action to retaliate against European companies in the United States, as Senator Jay Rockefeller suggested his subcommittee on aviation might, would go too far.

The New York Times

Senator Russell D. Feingold, the Wisconsin Democrat who requested the hearings, said Mr. Ashcroft "seemed moved by some of the testimony and he indicated he would at least in theory be interested in taking legislative action".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take legislative action", ensure it's clear which body is taking the action (e.g., Congress, Parliament, the EU) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid phrasing that obscures who is responsible for taking the action. Instead of "Legislative action should be taken", specify "Congress should take legislative action".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take legislative action" functions as a verbal phrase describing the initiation of legal or regulatory measures by a legislative body. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

9%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take legislative action" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression signifying the commencement of legal or regulatory measures by a legislative body, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and media, it serves to describe and advocate for the implementation of laws to address specific issues. While relatively formal, its clear and consistent usage makes it effective in conveying governmental processes. To ensure clarity, specify the acting legislative body and avoid passive constructions. Consider alternatives like "enact legislation" or "pass a law" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enact legislation

Focuses on the result of the action, the actual enactment of laws, rather than the process.

approve legislation

Highlights the approval stage of a legislative proposal.

pass a law

Emphasizes the creation of a specific law.

legislate

A more concise, verb-form alternative, referring directly to the act of making laws.

introduce a bill

Highlights the initial step in the legislative process: proposing a new law.

establish regulations

Highlights the creation of specific rules or guidelines.

adopt measures

Refers to a broader scope of actions, including regulations or policies.

implement regulations

Focuses on putting existing rules into effect.

formulate policies

Emphasizes the creation and development of governmental strategies.

institute legal reforms

Implies broader changes to the legal system.

FAQs

What does "take legislative action" mean?

To "take legislative action" means that a governing body, such as a parliament or congress, is enacting laws or regulations to address a specific issue or problem.

How to use "take legislative action" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe efforts by a government to address issues through new laws. For example, "In response to climate change, the government decided to "enact legislation"." or "The senate will "pass a law" this month".

What are some alternatives to "take legislative action"?

Alternatives include "enact legislation", "pass a law", or "legislate". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "take legislative action" formal or informal?

It is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase, suitable for news reports, academic papers, and official communications. It is less common in casual conversation.