Are congressional and state enactments both forms of law?

• A. Statutory Law
• B. Natural Law
• C. Common Law
• D. Administrative Law

Answer: (A)

Statutory law is the body of law created by legislative bodies. When Congress passes laws and state legislatures approve them, those enacted statutes become formal, written rules that govern behavior and are enforceable by the courts and authorities. So congressional and state enactments are forms of statutory law because they come from the official lawmaking branches and are codified as statutes.

This is different from natural law, which is a philosophical idea about universal rights believed to exist independent of government; common law, which develops from court decisions and precedent; and administrative law, which consists of rules issued by government agencies to implement statutes. Understanding that enacted laws from legislatures are statutory helps you trace the source and authority of the rules you study or transcribe.