Legal Definitions - statute book

A statute book refers to an official compilation, often in a physical bound volume or a comprehensive digital database, that contains laws (statutes) enacted by a legislative body. It serves as the authoritative record of these laws, making them accessible to the public, legal professionals, and government officials. These collections are typically organized by subject matter or chronologically and form part of the complete body of written law for a particular jurisdiction.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of a statute book:

• Imagine a state legislature passes a new law requiring all new commercial buildings to meet specific energy efficiency standards. This new law, once officially signed and codified, would be added to the state's statute book alongside all other existing building codes and environmental regulations. Lawyers, architects, and developers would consult this book to understand their legal obligations and ensure compliance with the updated requirements.

  This example demonstrates how new legislation is incorporated into an existing, authoritative collection of laws and how various professionals rely on it for practical application.

• A federal agency is tasked with drafting new regulations to implement a recent amendment to the Clean Air Act. To ensure their regulations accurately reflect the legislative intent and precise wording, the agency's legal team would refer to the relevant section within the federal statute book (or its digital equivalent). This allows them to verify the exact text of the amendment as passed by Congress, ensuring their new rules align perfectly with the established law.

  This illustrates the statute book's role as the definitive source for government bodies when interpreting and implementing federal legislation.

• A legal historian is researching the evolution of consumer protection laws in a specific country over the past fifty years. To trace these changes, they would consult various historical editions of that country's statute book from different eras. By comparing the texts from different decades, they can identify when specific protections were introduced, amended, or repealed, providing a clear timeline of legislative development.

  This example highlights the statute book's function as a chronological record and a valuable resource for historical and academic research into legal changes.