Definition
A federal statute is a law passed by Congress and approved through the constitutional lawmaking process. Statutes are collected in the Statutes at Large and organized by subject in the U.S. Code.
Political Dictionary
Statute
A statute is a law enacted by a legislature.
Why It Matters
Statutes create legal duties, programs, rights, penalties, and government authority.
How It Works
A bill passes both chambers, receives presidential approval or survives a veto, and is assigned a public or private law number.
History
Federal statutes have been enacted since the first Congress and form a major source of U.S. law.
Example
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal statute.
Common Misconceptions
- Every regulation is a statute.
- Court opinions are statutes.
- A bill is already a statute when introduced.
Related Terms
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