Legal Definitions - statutory

The term statutory refers to anything that is established, defined, or governed by a statute. A statute is a formal written law passed by a legislative body, such as a parliament, congress, or state legislature. Therefore, if something is described as "statutory," it means it exists because a specific law was enacted to create or regulate it, rather than being based on common law (judicial precedent) or constitutional principles alone.

• Minimum Driving Age: In most places, the age at which a person can legally obtain a driver's license is not based on tradition or judicial decisions; it is explicitly set by laws passed by state or provincial legislatures. For example, a state might have a law stating that individuals must be at least 16 years old to apply for a driver's license.

  This makes the minimum driving age a statutory requirement, as it is directly mandated by a specific written law.

• Consumer Protection Regulations: Laws that mandate product safety standards, require clear labeling for food items, or prohibit deceptive advertising practices are created by legislative bodies to protect consumers. For instance, a law might require all packaged foods to list ingredients and nutritional information in a specific format.

  These are statutory regulations because they are established and enforced through specific written laws designed to safeguard the public.

• Creation of a Public Commission: When a government establishes a new public body, such as an independent commission tasked with overseeing elections or investigating a particular social issue, its powers, duties, and structure are typically outlined in an act passed by the legislature. For example, a new "Environmental Review Commission" might be created by an act of parliament.

  This makes the commission a statutory body, deriving its existence and authority directly from a specific statute.