term:

Statute

statute n

[Latin statutum law, regulation, from neuter of statutus, past participle of statuere to set up, station, from status position, state]
1 : a law enacted by the legislative branch of a government see also code, statutory law
2 : an act of a corporation or its founder intended as a permanent rule
3 : an international instrument setting up an agency and regulating its scope or authority [the of the International Court of Justice]

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.