What are statutes?

Statutes are defined as laws that are formally enacted by legislative bodies at either the state or federal level. These laws are written and adopted through a specific legislative process, which typically involves proposal, debate, and approval by the elected representatives within a governing body. Statutes serve as a primary source of law and provide standards, regulations, and legal frameworks that govern behavior in society.

In contrast, local laws refer to ordinances or regulations passed by city or county governments, while common laws are derived from judicial decisions and established precedents rather than from legislatively enacted statutes. Regulations set by administrative agencies involve rules created by government agencies based on statutes, but these are secondary and serve to implement the laws that the legislature has passed. Therefore, understanding that statutes originate from legislative authority highlights their foundational role in the legal system.