Legal Definitions - general statute

A general statute is a law enacted by a legislative body that applies broadly across an entire jurisdiction, such as a state or country. Unlike a special or private law, which might target a specific individual, group, or locality, a general statute establishes rules and regulations that affect all citizens, or all members of a defined class of people, uniformly. Its purpose is to create consistent legal standards for the public good.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• State-wide Speed Limit Law: Imagine a state legislature passes a law that sets the maximum speed limit on all interstate highways within its borders at 70 miles per hour.

  This is a general statute because it applies to all drivers on all interstate highways throughout the entire state, without exception for specific individuals, vehicles, or particular cities. It creates a uniform rule for public safety across the jurisdiction.

• Universal Minimum Wage Law: A country's parliament enacts a law establishing a national minimum wage that all employers must pay their employees, regardless of the industry or location within the country.

  This exemplifies a general statute because it applies broadly to all employers and employees across the entire nation, setting a consistent standard for compensation rather than targeting specific businesses or regions.

• Public Education Funding Formula: A state government passes legislation that outlines a formula for how state funds will be allocated to all public school districts based on student enrollment and other demographic factors.

  This is a general statute because it establishes a uniform method for distributing resources to all eligible public school districts throughout the state, ensuring equitable funding based on a set of general criteria, rather than creating a unique funding plan for each individual district.