What is statutory law?

Statutory law refers to laws that are created and enacted by legislative bodies, such as Congress at the federal level or state legislatures at the state level. These laws are written statutes that dictate specific regulations or rules within the legal framework and are formally codified. The legislative process involves proposing a law, discussing and amending it, and ultimately voting on it before it is signed into law by an executive authority.

This differs from common law, which is established through judicial decisions and interpretations. Statutory laws are explicit, clear in their language, and serve as a primary source of law, contrasting with laws resulting from public referendums or local ordinances that might not have the broad applicability of statutory laws. In addition, while laws can be enacted through popular vote, this is not the typical method used for statutory law. Statutory law is not limited to specific counties either, as it generally applies within the entire jurisdiction of the legislative body that created it.