Legal Definitions - statute

A statute is a formal, written law that has been created and enacted by a legislative body. These laws are developed by elected representatives, such as those in the U.S. Congress at the federal level or a state legislature at the state level. Statutes are designed to establish rules, define rights, impose duties, or allocate resources, and once passed through the legislative process and typically signed into law by an executive official (like a president or governor), they become binding legal requirements.

• Example 1 (Federal Law): The U.S. Congress passes a law requiring all new passenger vehicles sold in the United States to include advanced automatic emergency braking systems as a standard safety feature. This law aims to reduce traffic accidents nationwide.

  Explanation: This is a statute because it is a formal, written law created and enacted by the U.S. Congress, which is the federal legislative body, to establish a new safety requirement for the automotive industry across the entire country.

• Example 2 (State Law): The legislature of a particular state passes a law mandating that all public elementary schools within its borders must provide at least 30 minutes of recess time per school day for students.

  Explanation: This law is a statute because it was formally created and enacted by the state's legislative body to establish a specific requirement for public education within its jurisdiction.