ABSTRACT

A statute is a formal act of the Legislature in written form. It declares the will of the Legislature. It may be declaratory of the law, or a command which must be obeyed, or a prohibition forbidding a course of conduct or a particular act. We normally refer to the whole body of law as enacted by Parliament as the Statute Book. For a single enactment, the term Act of Parliament is usually used. In a federal state, the enactment of the legislature of each of the States or Provinces is also a statute.