statutory law
Definition
Noun: - The body of laws created by legislative statutes: This refers to the complete collection of written laws formally enacted by a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress. It is distinguished from other sources of law like common law (based on judicial decisions) or regulatory law (created by administrative agencies).
Usage
Statutory law is the primary source of law in many legal systems. It is used to refer to the codified rules that govern society, which are created through a formal legislative process. - Example: The new regulations on data privacy are part of statutory law and must be followed by all companies. - Example: Lawyers must be well-versed in both case law and statutory law to argue effectively in court.
Advanced Usage
- "To be governed by statutory law": To have one's rights and obligations defined primarily by written statutes.
- The terms of the contract are governed by statutory law in this jurisdiction.
- "A gap in statutory law": A situation where no statute exists to cover a specific legal issue.
- The court had to use common law principles to address the gap in statutory law.
Variants and Related Words
- Statute (n): A single, formal written law enacted by a legislative body.
- The statute of limitations sets a time limit for filing lawsuits.
- Statutory (adj): Related to or enacted by statute.
- Companies have a statutory obligation to file annual reports.
Synonyms
- Legislation: Laws, considered collectively, that are made by a legislative body.
- Written law: Law that is formally codified and enacted, as opposed to unwritten customary law.
Related Phrases
- Statutory interpretation: The process by which courts interpret and apply statutes.
- The judge's role in statutory interpretation is to determine the legislature's intent.
- Statutory framework: The overall structure of statutes governing a particular area.
- The statutory framework for environmental protection is very complex.
Noun
-
the body of laws created by legislative statutes
