Statute n.
一、释义
1. 英文释义
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. 中文释义
1）成文法、制定法：在英美法中，专指由立法机关所制定的法律，表现为正式的法律文件，其制定机关不一定为议会或国会，例如在美国，联邦、州、市或县的立法机关均可制定。（该词使用时专指以立法形式创设的法律，故与由法院判决所形成的判例法相对。
2）章程：公司或法人的设立人所创设的永久性规则
3）规约：关于机构设置及其权限范围的国际性文件
二、同义词比较
act or legislation is interchangeable as a synonym. 三者可互相替换
三、衍生词汇节选
affirmative statute n. 确认性法律
"A law expressed in positive terms to require that something be done; one that directs the doing of an act. Cf. negative statute.
指导人们为一定行为或要求人们需为某些行为的制定法。（与禁止性法律相对）
amending statute n. 修正性法律
remedial statute n. 救济法令
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. 编纂法规
"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、统一法规
“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."
将数个同主题的法规合并在一起的法规。
反义词辨析：
"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. 解释性法律
"A law enacted to clarify prior law be reconciling conflicting judicial decisions or by explaining the meaning of a prior statute."
指当某一法律尤其是普通法在有关问题含义不明确或产生争议时，为阐释或确认其含义而制定的另一法律。
directory statute n. 指导性法律、指示性法律
"A law that indicates only what should be done, with no provision for enforcement.
指导性法律，不具有强制遵守的效力
Cf. mandatory statute; permissive statute
disabling statute n. 剥夺资格法
"A law that limits or curbs certain rights." 限制或除去先前存在的权利之法规
=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. 组织法
"A law that establishes an administrative agency or local government."
国会规定设立政府组织，授予权力的法律。
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. 无追溯力的法律、适用于将来的法律
quasi-statute n. 准法规
"An executive or administrative order, or a regulation promulgated by a governmental agency, that has the binding effect of legislation."
revival statute n. 恢复效力法
"A law that provides for the renewal of actions, of wills, and of the legal effect of documents."
一种联邦或州的制定法，其内容为恢复诉讼、遗嘱或其他文件的法律效力。
special statute n. 特别法 =private act; private statute; special legislation
( 来源：Black's Law Dictionary，《元照英美法词典》）