What are laws enacted by the legislative branch of government called?

Laws enacted by the legislative branch of government are referred to as statutes. Statutes are formal written regulations that have been passed by the legislative bodies, such as Congress at the federal level or state legislatures at the state level. They serve as the primary source of law in most legal systems and establish general principles that govern society.

Unlike regulations, which are created by administrative agencies and specify the details necessary to enforce statutes, statutes represent the broad directives or prohibitions as defined by the legislative branch. Ordinances are local laws enacted by municipal governments, typically governing matters such as zoning and local safety regulations, which are not the same as statutes. Codes generally refer to comprehensive compilations of statutes and regulations concerning specific areas of law, such as the penal code or civil code.

In summary, statutes are the specific laws passed by legislative bodies, making them the authoritative answer to the question regarding laws enacted by the legislative branch of government.