drafting

Definition

The legislative art of writing bills that will be amended beyond recognition before passage, if they pass at all. It's where lawyers and policy wonks wordsmith proposed laws with the precision of contract attorneys and the optimism of screenwriters. Think of it as the rough draft stage, except it takes months and involves committee meetings.

Example Usage

The senator's staff spent weeks drafting comprehensive healthcare legislation that died in committee.

Source: Legislative terminology via standard dictionaries

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