Statute Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Statute, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Statute?

(n) Statute is a written law enacted by federal or state legislation containing the pre-amble, provisions, rules etc for implementing such legislation. Statute differ from ordinance , regulations, rulings and orders and proclamations.

History and Meaning of Statute

A statute is a formal written enactment by the legislative body of a country or state. It is a law that has been passed by Congress or another legislative body that has the power to do so. Statutes can be either federal or state laws and are generally used to establish rules and regulations.

Statutes often have a preamble that sets out the purpose and context of the law, as well as a set of provisions or rules that detail how it is to be implemented. Statutes differ from other types of laws such as ordinances, regulations, rulings, orders, and proclamations in that they are created by the legislative authority rather than by other government bodies.

Statutes have a long history that dates back to ancient Rome and Greece where they were used to establish legal codes. In the United States, statutes have been created since the country's founding and have been used to establish a wide range of laws and regulations.

Examples of Statute

  1. The Clean Air Act is a federal statute that regulates air pollution in the United States.

  2. The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal statute that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

  3. The California Environmental Quality Act is a state statute that requires environmental reviews for certain types of development projects.

  4. The Family and Medical Leave Act is a federal statute that provides employees with job-protected leave for certain family or medical reasons.

  5. The New Jersey Safe Drinking Water Act is a state statute that regulates public drinking water systems in New Jersey.

Legal Terms Similar to Statute

  1. Ordinance - a local law enacted by a municipal government
  2. Regulation - a rule or order created by a government agency to implement a statute
  3. Ruling - a legal decision made by a judge or administrative agency
  4. Order - a decision or directive issued by a court or administrative agency
  5. Proclamation - an official announcement by an executive authority or government agency.