What are statutes?

Statutes are defined as written laws enacted by legislatures, which include both state and federal legislative bodies. These laws provide a formal legal framework that governs behavior, sets forth rights and responsibilities, and regulates various activities within a jurisdiction. Statutes are created through a legislative process that involves drafting, debating, and ultimately voting on proposed laws, which upon approval are codified and become enacted law.

The distinction between statutes and other forms of law is important to understand. While guidelines issued by regulatory agencies, known as regulations, help to interpret and apply statutes, they do not hold the same formal status. Court decisions constitute case law, which interprets statutes and may set legal precedents but are not laws in themselves. Local laws, also known as ordinances, are specific to municipalities and typically cover more localized issues; however, they are distinct from state or federal statutes as they operate under their own jurisdictional scope. Understanding these differences helps clarify the role and significance of statutes in the broader legal system.