Statute
A formal written law enacted by a legislative body (such as Congress or a state legislature) and signed by the executive (or passed over a veto). It is the primary form of codified law, distinct from regulations (created by agencies) or common law (created by courts).
A formal written law enacted by a legislative body (such as Congress or a state legislature) and signed by the executive (or passed over a veto). It is the primary form of codified law, distinct from regulations (created by agencies) or common law (created by courts).
Example: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal statute passed by Congress and signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, which legally prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Common misconception: All laws are statutes. The legal system also includes constitutional provisions, administrative regulations, and judicial precedents (common law), which carry legal weight but are not technically statutes enacted by a legislature.
Sources: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/civil-rights-act-1964 — National Archives: Civil Rights Act of 1964, passed by Congress and signed July 2, 1964