Which term describes the body of law enacted by a legislature?

• A. Cy-pres doctrine
• B. Common law
• C. Statutory law
• D. Codified

Answer: (C)

Statutory law is the body of law enacted by a legislature. It consists of statutes that the legislative branch passes and that are then enacted as law, setting rules and prohibitions that govern behavior, including aspects of estates and probate. This contrasts with common law, which arises from judicial decisions over time rather than from statutes. The term codified describes statutes that have been organized into a formal code (like a state probate code or the U.S. Code); codification is about arrangement, not the source of the authority. The cy-pres doctrine is a specific equitable principle used in trusts when exact performance isn’t possible, not the general term for laws created by a legislature.