statutory

Statutory refers to anything related to statutes, which are written laws enacted by a legislature. In legal usage, statutory provisions create, modify, or abolish rights, duties, or powers and are distinguished from rules that arise from case law or administrative practice. Statutory law is typically compiled in acts passed by a legislature and may be supplemented by regulations or delegated instruments.

Courts interpret statutory provisions to determine legislative intent and apply them to specific cases. Methods of interpretation include the literal or plain meaning of the text, as well as purposive approaches that seek to implement the statute’s objectives. Other tools include grammatical, historical, and systemic considerations, the structure of the statute, and related statutes. When a provision is ambiguous, judges may consider the policy rationale and drafting history, provided such material is admissible under applicable rule.

Many jurisdictions authorize delegated or subordinate legislation under the authority of a primary statute. Statutory instruments, regulations, orders, or rules issued by government ministers or agencies have the force of law but derive their authority from the statute that created the power. They are typically subject to publication requirements and, in some systems, parliamentary oversight.

Statutes can be amended or repealed by subsequent acts. In general, statutory law governs in areas where the legislature has expressed explicit rules, and it can interact with other sources of law, including common law and constitutional provisions, which may constrain or guide its application.