A legislature is the official body that has the power to make or change laws for a country, a state, or a similar place. It is not one person; it is the whole house, or houses, of law-makers. Some places have one chamber; others have two, and both together are still the legislature.

A legislature is the official bodylegislature是正式的機構， that has the power to make or change laws for a country, a state, or a similar place有權為一個國家、一個州或類似的地方制定或修改法律。 It is not one person它不是指一個人； it is the whole house, or houses, of law-makers而是指整個立法者組成的議會，一院或兩院。 Some places have one chamber有些地方只有一院； others have two有些有兩院， and both together are still the legislature兩院合起來還是叫legislature。

The word is formal and a little bookish. Daily news more often uses the local name — Parliament, Congress, and the like. Though actually, writers reach for legislature when they need a word that is not tied to one country.

The word is formal and a little bookish這個詞很正式，也有點書面。 Daily news more often uses the local name日常新聞比較常用當地的名稱—— Parliament, Congress, and the like像Parliament、Congress之類的。 Though actually不過其實， when they need a word that is not tied to one country當作者需要一個不專屬某個國家的詞時， writers reach for legislature他們就會用legislature這個字。

Do not mix it with legislation: legislation is the laws on paper; the legislature is the body that writes them. People also use it a little loosely for the place they meet, as in “news from the legislature today.”

Do not mix it with legislation不要跟legislation搞混： legislation is the laws on paperlegislation是寫在紙上的法律本身； the legislature is the body that writes themlegislature則是寫這些法律的機構。 People also use it a little loosely for the place they meet大家也會鬆散地用它來指開會的地方， as in "news from the legislature today."像「news from the legislature today」這種說法。