Statutory law facts for kids
Statutory law is a type of law that is written down. It's different from oral law (spoken rules) or customary law (rules based on tradition).
This kind of law is created by a group of people who make laws, like a legislature (often called a parliament or congress). Sometimes, the executive branch of the government (like the president or prime minister and their team) can also make certain types of statutory law.
Governments create statutory laws for many reasons. They might need to make sure the government works smoothly, improve how people live together peacefully, or meet a public need. Sometimes, they write down existing rules to make them clearer, which is called codifying law.
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What is Statutory Law?
Statutory law is basically the rules and regulations that a country's government writes down. Think of it like the rulebook for a country. These laws are created by people elected to represent everyone, or by parts of the government that help run the country.
These written laws are very important because they tell everyone what they can and cannot do. They also explain how the government itself should work.
Why Do We Need Written Laws?
Having laws written down makes them clear for everyone. It helps avoid confusion because people can read exactly what the law says. This is much better than just having spoken rules, which can be easily misunderstood or forgotten.
Written laws also make sure that everyone is treated fairly under the same rules. They help keep order in society and protect people's rights.
How Are Statutory Laws Made?
Most statutory laws start as an idea, often called a "bill." This bill is usually introduced by a member of the legislature. A legislature is a group of elected officials, like the United States Congress or the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Once a bill is introduced, it goes through several steps:
- It is discussed and debated by lawmakers.
- They might make changes to it.
- Then, they vote on it.
- If it passes in the legislature, it often goes to the head of the executive branch (like the president) to be signed into law.
Once signed, the bill becomes a statutory law and everyone must follow it.
Codified Law
Sometimes, you might hear the term codified law. This is often another way to talk about statutory law. It means that laws have been collected and organized into a system or a "code."
For example, in some parts of the United States, all the statutory laws are put together into a big book called a "code." The Ohio Revised Code is an example of this. It's a collection of all the written laws for the state of Ohio.
At the national level in the U.S., parts of the statutory law are also called "codes." The U.S. Bankruptcy Code, for instance, is a specific set of written laws about bankruptcy. This helps people find and understand the laws more easily because they are grouped by topic.
See also
In Spanish: Ley para niños
