statutedriven

Statutedriven is a term used to describe legal systems or processes that are primarily based on codified laws, known as statutes. These statutes are written laws passed by a legislative body. In a statutedriven system, legal interpretation and decision-making heavily rely on the explicit text of these statutes. This contrasts with common law systems, which place significant emphasis on judicial precedent, or judge-made law.

The core principle of a statutedriven approach is that the law is found in the enacted legislation. Judges and legal professionals look to the specific wording of statutes to determine rights, obligations, and legal consequences. While judicial interpretation is still necessary to apply statutes to specific cases, the ultimate authority rests with the legislative text. This approach aims to provide clarity and predictability, as the law is intended to be readily accessible and understandable through written documents.

Many countries, particularly those with civil law traditions, operate under a statutedriven legal framework. These systems often involve comprehensive legal codes that cover broad areas of law. The process of creating and amending statutes is typically undertaken by elected representatives, reflecting a democratic approach to lawmaking. The emphasis is on the legislative will as the primary source of legal authority.