Legislation is the process of making new laws, or the laws themselves that result from that process. When Congress passes a bill and the President signs it, that bill becomes legislation.

Think of legislation as the rulebook for an entire country, state, or city. Just as your school creates rules about hallway behavior or homework policies, governments create legislation about everything from traffic laws to environmental protection. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination. The Americans with Disabilities Act was legislation requiring buildings to be accessible to everyone.

Creating legislation involves debate, compromise, and voting. A senator might propose new legislation to fund school lunch programs. Representatives argue about whether it's a good idea, suggest changes, and eventually vote. If enough agree, it moves forward to become law.

You'll often hear about “pending legislation” (laws being debated but not yet passed) or “federal legislation” (laws that apply to the whole country). When people talk about supporting or opposing certain legislation, they mean they have opinions about specific laws being considered or already in place.