Legislatures may be supra-national (for example, the European Parliament), national, such as the Japanese Diet, sub-national as in provinces, or local.
The political theory of the separation of powers requires legislators to be independent individuals from the members of the executive and the judiciary.
In continental European jurisprudence and legal discussion, "the legislator" (le législateur) is the abstract entity that has produced the laws.
When there is room for interpretation, the intent of the legislator will be questioned, and the court is directed to rule in the direction it judges to best fit the legislative intent, which can be difficult in the case of conflicting laws or constitutional provisions.
Venezuela, for example, provides for substitute legislators (diputado suplente) to be elected under Article 186 of its 1999 constitution.