What is a statute?

A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority, particularly regarding laws that are made and passed by a governmental body. In this context, a law adopted by the state legislature is classified as a statute because it stems from the legislative process where lawmakers propose, debate, and vote on potential laws. Once passed, these laws are codified and become part of the legal system that governs a state.

Legislative statutes are critical in defining the legal framework within which individuals and organizations must operate. They cover various aspects of life, including criminal law, business operations, civil rights, and more, thus providing structure and rules for society.

The other options, while related to the legal system, do not accurately define a statute. A law created by executive order pertains to directives issued by the executive branch, which can be subject to different processes and limitations than statutory law. Case law established by court decisions refers to the body of rulings made by courts which interpret statutes and can set legal precedents, but is not itself a statute. Guidelines for regulatory agencies are instructions or standards that help in the implementation of laws, generally derived from statutory authority, but they do not have the force of law unless enacted through legislative processes.