What is a proposal presented to a legislative body for possible enactment called?

A proposal presented to a legislative body for possible enactment is referred to as a bill. In the legislative process, a bill is an initial draft of a proposed law that is introduced in either chamber of a government body, such as Congress or a state legislature. Once introduced, a bill is subject to debates, amendments, and votes. If approved by the legislative body and signed by the executive (e.g., the President or a Governor), it becomes law.

The term "act" refers to a bill that has successfully been passed and enacted into law, so it is not used to describe the proposal stage. A "resolution" typically addresses issues such as internal rules of an organization or expresses opinions but does not have the force of law like a bill does. An "ordinance" generally refers to laws or regulations enacted by local government units, such as municipalities or counties, rather than state or federal legislative bodies. Therefore, the correct term for a proposal to a legislative body is a bill.