Congress' legislative intent refers to the goals, purposes, or objectives that lawmakers have in mind when creating a law. It reflects what they intend for the law to achieve and the problems it aims to address.
Related terms
Statutory interpretation: The process of courts interpreting laws passed by Congress to determine their meaning and application.
Floor debate: Discussions that take place among members of Congress on the legislative floor during the consideration of a proposed bill.
Conference committee: A special joint committee composed of members from both houses of Congress responsible for reconciling differences between two versions of a bill passed by each house.