Statute

Astatuteis a writtenlawpassed by astateorfederallegislaturethat creates aruleorregulation.Statutes (also calledlegal codes) provide theauthorityfor other laws.Many state and federal agencies, such as theIRS,EPAand stateSecretaries of Statemay issue regulations for the areas of the law they cover.A statute usually commands something, prohibits something or declares something to be policy.When there is adisputeover the meaning of a statute, a state or federalcourtmay issue ajudgmentthatinterpretsthe statute more clearly. When this happens it also becomescase law.

Before a statute becomeslawin somecountries,it must be agreed upon by the highestexecutivein thegovernment.Then it ispublishedas part of a legal code. In many countries, statutes are organized (orcodified) for a particularjurisdiction.In many nationsstatutory lawis distinguished from and issubordinatetoconstitutional law.