statute-book

A lawyer consults a thick statute-book in her office.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A written collection of laws: A "statute-book" is a book or official record containing the statutes (written laws) enacted by a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress.
   • Figuratively, the body of law itself: The term can also refer metaphorically to the entire set of statutes in force within a jurisdiction, as if gathered into a single volume.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The new regulation will be added to the statute-book next year. (The written collection of laws will be updated.)
  • Lawyers often consult the statute-book to verify the exact wording of a statute. (They refer to the official record of laws.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be on the statute-book": to be formally enacted as law.

  • This ancient law is still on the statute-book, though rarely enforced. (The law remains officially in force.)

• "to remove from the statute-book": to repeal or abolish a law.

  • Parliament voted to remove the outdated tax rule from the statute-book. (They formally cancelled the law.)

Variants and Related Words

• Statute (n): a written law passed by a legislative body.

  • The statute prohibits smoking in public buildings. (The specific written law.)

• Statutory (adj): required, permitted, or enacted by statute.

  • The company must comply with statutory reporting requirements. (Obligations set by law.)

• Book (n): a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.

  • He placed the statute-book on the shelf with other law references.

Synonyms

• Law code: a systematic collection of laws.
• Legal code: the entire body of laws of a nation or jurisdiction.
• Legislative record: formal documentation of enacted laws.

Related Idioms

• "throw the book at someone": to punish someone as severely as possible, often by applying all available laws.

  • The judge threw the book at the repeat offender, citing multiple statutes from the statute-book. (The judge imposed the maximum penalty.)

• "by the book": strictly according to rules or laws.

  • The police officer always follows the statute-book by the book. (He acts in strict accordance with written law.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Book in: to register or record officially.
  • The new law was booked in the statute-book after the royal assent. (It was formally entered into the legal record.)