Acts and statutes

Acts and statutes are laws created by a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress. An act is a formal decision to make a new law or change existing laws, which is then written down and enacted. Once passed, an act becomes a statute—a legally binding rule that applies to everyone within the jurisdiction. In essence, statutes are the official written laws that govern society, established through the legislative process, and provide the legal framework for maintaining order, protecting rights, and regulating conduct.