Landmark

[irmamar]

What is "a landmark piece of legislation"?

A landmark piece of legislation in 1430 introduced a uniform county franchise.

Thanks.

[hermit]

This means legislation that stands out in history as having changed
antiquated laws and traditions for the better.

[irmamar]

Thanks, hermit.

[Awaken]

Hermit's definition is mostly correct. It is something so big and important that it will stand out in history. However, there is no implication that it is a good piece of legislation. In fact, many "pieces of landmark legislation" are horrible laws.

The key thing is that the legislation is a big deal and represents enough of a shift from the current system/laws that it will stand out in history. (See definition 4 below)

land·mark   
[land-mahrk] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a prominent or conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide, esp. to ships at sea or to travelers on a road; a distinguishing landscape feature marking a site or location: The post office served as a landmark for locating the street to turn down.
2.
something used to mark the boundary of land.
3.
a building or other place that is of outstanding historical, aesthetic, or cultural importance, often declared as such and given a special status (landmark designation), ordaining its preservation, by some authorizing organization.
4.
a significant or historic event, juncture, achievement, etc.: The court decision stands as a landmark in constitutional law

[irmamar]

Could I say "important laws" instead? (much easier ).

[chileno]

En este caso landmark = hito. (Just in case)

[irmamar]

Sí, pero un hito en una ley me parece algo raro. Otra cosa es que la ley fuera novedosa y se convirtiera en un hito, por ejemplo. Entiendo 'piece of legislation' como una ley concreta .

For instance I could understand as 'hito': That piece of legislation was (or became) a landmark at that time.

[Awaken]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Could I say "important laws" instead? (much easier ).

Yes. However, it doesn't carry the weight of saying "A landmark piece of legislation."

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Sí, pero un hito en una ley me parece algo raro. Otra cosa es que la ley fuera novedosa y se convirtiera en un hito, por ejemplo. Entiendo 'piece of legislation' como una ley concreta .

For instance I could understand as 'hito': That piece of legislation was (or became) a landmark at that time.

Exactamente eso.

[irmamar]

OK, thank you.

[JPablo]

Es imposible que pueda atribuirme o decir siquiera con credibilidad que yo fuí el primerito en ver esto... pues no es cierto, pero mi codificación legislativa del tema cuando yo era Hammurabi, fue el primer hito que representó un mojón del copón, para el futuro de los Derechos Humanos... (No, no estoy loco, todavía... uno sólo lo está si piensa que es Napoleón o Julio César... Hammurabi no entra en la clasificación....) (Y lo que marcó un hito en los Derechos Humanos fue "el cilindro de Ciro"...)

"landmark" = que marcó/hizo historia/época.