Legislative counsel definition

A legislative counsel is a nonpartisan attorney who drafts legislation and helps ensure bills are clear and legally consistent.

Published Aug 12, 2026by the USAFacts team

A legislative counsel is a nonpartisan attorney who assists members of Congress and congressional committees by drafting legislation and providing legal guidance on the form and structure of bills, resolutions, and amendments. They translate policy ideas into precise statutory language to ensure that the proposed legislation is clear, internally consistent, and aligned with existing federal law.

They’re typically experienced attorneys with expertise in statutory drafting, legislative procedure, and public law and operate on a nonpartisan and confidential basis, assisting members of both parties.

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Offices of legislative counsel

Several federal bodies use legislative counsel to assist lawmakers and executive branch officials:

House Office of the Legislative Counsel

The House Office of the Legislative Counsel provides nonpartisan services to members of the House of Representatives and its committees, helping draft bills, resolutions, and amendments.

Senate Office of the Legislative Counsel

The Senate Office of the Legislative Counsel performs a similar function for the Senate. Attorneys assist senators and Senate committees with drafting bills and amendments, and provide guidance on legislative form and statutory structure.

Like its House counterpart, the office is confidential and nonpartisan.

Treasury Tax Legislative Counsel

Within the Department of the Treasury, the Office of Tax Legislative Counsel works on federal tax legislation and policy. Its attorneys develop tax proposals, draft statutory language for tax legislation, and advise Treasury officials on tax-related legal matters.

The office also collaborates with Congress in developing federal tax legislation and supporting the Treasury’s tax policy initiatives.