What is a statute?

What is a statute?

• A. A ruling by a court
• B. A written law passed by a legislative body
• C. An executive order
• D. A constitutional amendment

Answer: (B)

A statute is a written law enacted by a legislative body, such as Congress or a state legislature. It is a formal rule that prescribes, prohibits, or authorizes conduct and becomes binding law after the legislature passes it and it is published and takes effect. Statutes are created through the legislative process and are distinct from court rulings, which interpret laws, and from executive orders, which are directives issued by the executive branch to manage government. They are also different from constitutional amendments, which change the constitution itself and often require a special process to adopt. An example is a civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination in specific areas; it illustrates how statutes codify public policy into enforceable law.

A statute is a written law enacted by a legislative body, such as Congress or a state legislature. It is a formal rule that prescribes, prohibits, or authorizes conduct and becomes binding law after the legislature passes it and it is published and takes effect. Statutes are created through the legislative process and are distinct from court rulings, which interpret laws, and from executive orders, which are directives issued by the executive branch to manage government. They are also different from constitutional amendments, which change the constitution itself and often require a special process to adopt. An example is a civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination in specific areas; it illustrates how statutes codify public policy into enforceable law.