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Statutory law or statute law is written law passed by a body of legislature. This is as opposed to oral or customary law; or regulatory law promulgated by the executive or common law of the judiciary.[1]Statutes may originate with national, state legislatures or local municipalities.


Codified lawEdit


Private law (particular law)Edit

Another example of statutes that are not typically codified is a "private law" that may originate as a private bill, a law affecting only one person or a small group of persons. An example was divorce in Canada prior to the passage of the Divorce Act of 1968.[3] It was possible to obtain a legislative divorce in by application to the Senate of Canada, which reviewed and investigated petitions for divorce, which would then be voted upon by the Senate and subsequently made into law.


See alsoEdit


  1. ^ "Common law - The modernization of common law in Great Britain". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  2. ^ "Statutes at Large Home Page: U.S. Congressional Documents". Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  3. ^ "Divorce Law in Canada (96-3e)". Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  4. ^ "Hybrid Bills". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2019-02-01.

External linksEdit