What is a statute?

What is a statute?

• A. An unwritten common law principle.
• B. A written law passed by a legislative body.
• C. A formal agreement between two countries.
• D. A court ruling based on precedent.

Answer: (B)

A statute is a written law enacted by a legislative body. It is created through the formal lawmaking process in which lawmakers propose, debate, vote, and, after approval, enact the measure into law. Statutes are codified and published as binding rules that govern behavior, rights, and duties for the public. This distinguishes them from unwritten or judge-made principles that come from court decisions, which evolve as cases are decided. It also differs from a formal agreement between countries, which is a treaty or international pact, and from a court ruling based on precedent, which is a specific judicial decision interpreting laws or applying them to a case. So the best description is that a statute is a written law passed by a legislative body.

A statute is a written law enacted by a legislative body. It is created through the formal lawmaking process in which lawmakers propose, debate, vote, and, after approval, enact the measure into law. Statutes are codified and published as binding rules that govern behavior, rights, and duties for the public. This distinguishes them from unwritten or judge-made principles that come from court decisions, which evolve as cases are decided. It also differs from a formal agreement between countries, which is a treaty or international pact, and from a court ruling based on precedent, which is a specific judicial decision interpreting laws or applying them to a case.

So the best description is that a statute is a written law passed by a legislative body.