Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Statutory law is written law
(as opposed to oral or customary law) set down by a legislature
or other governing authority such as the executive branch of
government in response to a perceived need to clarify the
functioning of government, improve civil order, answer a public
need, to codify existing law, or for an individual or company to
obtain special treatment. (Contrast common law.) In addition to
the statutes passed by the national or state legislature, lower
authorities or municipalities may also promulgate administrative
regulations or municipal ordinances that have the force of law —
the process of creating these administrative decrees are
generally classified as rulemaking. While these enactments are
subordinate to the law of the whole state or nation, they are
nonetheless a part of the body of a jurisdiction's statutory
law. Private legislation that may originate as a private bill is
a lesser known aspect of statutory law. An example was divorce
in Canada prior to t