How to assess the intent of a legislature; or the assessment of a legislature's intent in a particular circumstance by reference to legislative history, intrinsic and extrinsic evidence, stated purpose, etc.
Legislative intent is one factor considered by some courts when conducting statutory interpretation.
It is also an avenue for academic legal analysis/critique of a particular statute or a court's treatment of a statute.
The intent of a legislature can be gleaned from:
- legislative evolution (the way a statute amends an already-existing Act)
- legislative history, including the drafting history, speeches on the floor of the legislature
- material available to the legislators, including white papers, research notes, evidence presented at committee
- the nuisance being tackled by the legislation
- express declaration of purpose in the statute's text, often in a preamble
