What does Statute Law consist of?

Statute law consists of laws that are explicitly created and enacted by legislative bodies, such as state legislatures or the federal Congress. These laws are formal and written down, as opposed to being based on unwritten rules or societal norms. Legislative bodies develop statute law through a defined process that includes drafting, debating, and voting on proposed laws. Once a proposed law is approved by a majority vote, it is signed into law and becomes a formal statute.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different sources of law. For instance, executive orders are directives issued by an executive authority, commonly the president or governors, to manage operations within government. Commonly held regulations refer to guidelines or practices that arise from societal norms or standards, lacking the formal procedure of legislative enactment. Decisions made by judges represent case law, also known as judicial precedent, which interprets and applies existing statutes rather than creating new laws.

Thus, the correct understanding of statute law being laws passed by the legislature highlights its distinct and formal nature as compared to other types of legal authority.