Statute n.
一、釋義
1. 英文釋義
A law passed by a legislative body; specif., legislation enacted by any lawmaking body, such as a legislature, administrative board, or municipal court.
"[W]e are not justified in limiting the statutory law to those rules only which are promulgated by what we commonly call ‘legislatures.' Any positive enactment to which the state gives the force of? a law is a 'statute.' whether it has gone through the usual stages of legislative proceedings, or has been adopted in other modes of expressing the will of the people or other sovereign power of the state. In an absolute monarchy, and edict of the ruling sovereign is statutory law. Constitutions, being direct legislation by the people, must be included in the statutory law, and indeed they are examples of the highest form that the statute law can be assume. Generally speaking, treaties also are statutory law, because in this country, under the provision of the United States Constitution, treaties have not the force of the law until so declared by the representatives of the people." William M. Lile et al., Brief Making and the Use of Law Books 8(Roger W. Cooley & Charles Lesley Ames eds., 3d ed.1914).
2. 中文釋義
1）成文法、制定法：在英美法中，專指由立法機關所制定的法律，表現為正式的法律文件，其制定機關不一定為議會或國會，例如在美國，聯邦、州、市或縣的立法機關均可制定。（該詞使用時專指以立法形式創設的法律，故與由法院判決所形成的判例法相對。
2）章程：公司或法人的設立人所創設的永久性規則
3）規約：關于機構設置及其權限范圍的國際性文件
二、同義詞比較
act or? legislation is interchangeable as a synonym.? 三者可互相替換
三、衍生詞匯節選
affirmative statute n. 確認性法律
"A law expressed in positive terms to require that something be done; one that directs the doing of an act. Cf. negative statute.
指導人們為一定行為或要求人們需為某些行為的制定法。（與禁止性法律相對）
amending statute n. 修正性法律
remedial statute n. 救濟法令
1) "Any statute other than a private bill; a law providing a means to enforce rights or redress injuries."
2) "A statute enacted to correct one or more defects, mistakes, or omissions."
=beneficial statute; curative statute; remedial law
codifying statute n. 編纂法規
"A law that purports to be exhaustive in restating the whole of the law on a particular topic, including prior case-law as well as legislative provisions." Cf. consolidating statute
consolidating statute n. 法律合并法、統一法規
“A law that collects the legislative provisions on a particular subject and embodies them in a single statute, often with minor amendments and drafting improvements."
將數個同主題的法規合并在一起的法規。
反義詞辨析：
"A consolidating statute is one which collects the statutory provisions relating to a particular topic, and embodies in a single Act of Parliament, making only minor amendments and improvements.
A codifying statute is one which purports to statute exhaustively the whole of the law on a particular subject( the common law as well as previous statutory provisions)"
declaratory statute n. 解釋性法律
"A law enacted to clarify prior law be reconciling conflicting judicial decisions or by explaining the meaning of a prior statute."
指當某一法律尤其是普通法在有關問題含義不明確或產生爭議時，為闡釋或確認其含義而制定的另一法律。
directory statute n.? 指導性法律、指示性法律
"A law that indicates only what should be done, with no provision for enforcement.
指導性法律，不具有強制遵守的效力
Cf. mandatory statute; permissive statute
disabling statute n.? 剝奪資格法
"A law that limits or curbs certain rights."? 限制或除去先前存在的權利之法規
=restraining statute? ? Cf. enabling statute
general statute? n.? 普通成文法、一般制定法
"A law relating to an entire community or all persons generally."=public statute
organic statute n. 組織法
"A law that establishes an administrative agency or local government."
國會規定設立政府組織，授予權力的法律。
penal statute n. 刑法 =punitive statute, penal law, criminal statute
permanent statute n. 永久性法律= perpetual statute? Cf. temporary statute
prospective statute n.? 無追溯力的法律、適用于將來的法律
quasi-statute n.? 準法規
"An executive or administrative order, or a regulation promulgated by a governmental agency, that has the binding effect of legislation."
revival statute n. 恢復效力法
"A law that provides for the renewal of actions, of wills, and of the legal effect of documents."
一種聯邦或州的制定法，其內容為恢復訴訟、遺囑或其他文件的法律效力。
special statute n.? 特別法 =private act; private statute; special legislation
( 來源：Black's Law Dictionary，《元照英美法詞典》）
