Statute

Statute means a written law enacted by a legislature, such as Congress or a state legislature.

Why It Matters

Statutes are one of the main places legal duties, rights, deadlines, and remedies are formally created. If you want to know whether a claim exists, what conduct is prohibited, or what a filing deadline looks like, the answer often starts with a statute.

Statutes also matter because many other legal terms depend on them. Agencies usually issue regulations under statutory authority, and courts often interpret statutes when disputes arise over meaning, scope, or application.

Where It Appears in Practice

You encounter statutes in civil claims, criminal law, consumer-protection rules, employment disputes, and administrative law. Lawyers cite statutes in complaints, motions, briefs, and advisory writing because statutes often supply the governing rule.

Practical Example

A consumer sues under a state deceptive-trade-practices statute that gives private parties a right to sue for misleading conduct. The statute defines the cause of action and may also describe available remedies.

How It Differs From Nearby Terms

A statute is not the same as a regulation. The statute usually comes first and authorizes an agency to issue more detailed rules. A statute is also different from precedent, because precedent comes from court decisions interpreting or applying the law rather than from the legislature writing it.

Related Terms

• Law
• Regulation
• Jurisdiction
• Cause of Action
• Remedy
• Precedent

Knowledge Check

1. Who creates a statute? A legislature creates a statute.
2. Why might a reader need to separate a statute from a regulation? Because the statute is the legislative rule or authorization, while the regulation is usually the agency’s more detailed implementation.