Creating, amending and abolishing laws
abolish
verb
to officially get rid of a law, system, practice etc
abrogate
verb
to officially get rid of a law or political arrangement, often without the agreement of the other people, groups etc involved
amend
verb
to make changes to a document, law, agreement etc, especially in order to improve it
amendment
noun
a change made to a law or agreement
amendment
noun
the process of changing a law or agreement
backdate
verb
to make a rule or law start to be effective from a date in the past
bring in
to introduce a new law or system
codify
verb
to make something part of an organized system, especially an official system of laws
come in
if something such as a law or practice comes in, it starts to be used or done
criminalize
verb
to make an activity illegal by making a new law
decriminalise
a British spelling of decriminalize
decriminalize
verb
to change the law so that something that was illegal becomes legal
deregulate
verb
to take away the rules that control something such as an industry
deregulation
noun
the process of taking away the rules that control something such as an industry
ease
verb
to make a rule or punishment less severe
enact
verb
to make a proposal into a law
first reading
noun
the first time that a parliament considers a proposal for a new law
frame
verb
to develop or make up something such as a plan or law
get through
to have a new law accepted by a parliament
get through
if a law gets through, it is accepted by a parliament
go through
if a law goes through, or if it goes through a law-making institution, it is officially approved
harmonise
a British spelling of harmonize
harmonize
verb
to make laws or policies similar to those of a different country, organization etc
impose
verb
to introduce something such as a new law or new system, and force people to accept it
initiative
noun
a process by which people can suggest a new law by signing a petition
insert
verb
to add something to a legal agreement or an official document
invoke
verb
to use a law or rule in order to achieve something
legalise
a British spelling of legalize
legalize
verb
to make something legal by creating a new law
legislate
verb
to create a new law and have it officially accepted
legislator
noun
someone who has the power and authority to create new laws
legitimize
verb
to make something legal
liberalise
a British spelling of liberalize
liberalize
verb
to make laws or rules less strict so that people have more freedom
lift
verb
to officially end a rule or law that stopped someone from doing something
mandate
verb
to give an official order or make a law stating that something must be done
nullify
verb
to make something lose its legal effect
outlaw
verb
to make something illegal
pass
verb
to make a law, proposal etc become official, usually by voting to accept it
pass
verb
if a law, proposal etc passes, or passes a particular law-making body, it becomes official as the result of a vote
passage
noun
the process by which a bill is discussed in a parliament and becomes law
pilot
verb
to make sure that something such as a new law is introduced or accepted
push through
to succeed in getting a law, agreement etc accepted quickly although a lot of people oppose it
reading
noun
one of three occasions when a bill (=new law) is read to Parliament in the UK and discussed before it can become law
relax
verb
to make rules, controls, conditions etc less strict
relaxation
noun
the process of making rules, controls, conditions etc more relaxed
repeal
verb
to state officially that a law no longer has legal authority and has ended
rescind
verb
to state officially that something such as a law or an agreement has ended and no longer has legal authority
restore
verb
to start using something such as a law or custom again
revise
verb
to change, improve, or make additions to something such as a book, law, or piece of writing
revoke
verb
to officially say that something is no longer legal, for example a law or a document
rewrite
verb
to make changes to something such as a computer program
strengthen
verb
to make a law or punishment stronger
strike down
if a judge or court strikes down a law, they officially end it
void
verb
to make something no longer legal or effective
washup
noun
the period during the last few days of a parliament when the government tries to get officially accepted as many of its proposals for new laws as possible
come into effect
if a new rule or law comes into effect, it starts to be used
in effect
if a law or rule is in effect, it is operating
take effect
if a new rule or law takes effect, it starts to be used
