Statutory law is always a written law pertaining to a specific region. Custom (or customary law) is a non-written, but generally practised law. For instance, many aboriginal communities around the world incorporate customary law into their society based on historical community standards.
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Statutory law is created by legislatures through the passage of statutes and is enforced by the government. Customary law, on the other hand, is based on traditions and practices within a community and is enforced through social norms and expectations. While statutory law is formal and written, customary law is informal and unwritten.
Statutory rights are rights that are established by laws or statutes, such as labor laws or consumer protection laws. Non-statutory rights are rights that are not specifically defined by law but may arise from common law principles or agreements between parties. The main difference is that statutory rights are clearly defined by written laws, whereas non-statutory rights rely on other sources for recognition and enforcement.
The fundamental difference between statutory law and common law is their source of authority. Statutory law is created and enacted by legislative bodies, such as parliaments or congresses, while common law is developed by judges through their decisions in court cases. Statutory law is often codified in written statutes, while common law is based on precedent and past court decisions.
When there is inconsistency between a statutory provision and a common law principle, the statutory provision typically prevails. This is because statutes are enacted by legislatures and have the force of law, whereas common law principles are derived from judicial decisions and may be overridden by legislation.
Statutory analysis involves interpreting and applying laws and statutes created by legislatures. Case law analysis involves examining court decisions and past rulings to understand how legal principles have been applied in specific situations. The key difference is that statutory analysis focuses on legislative intent and written laws, while case law analysis looks at how legal principles have been interpreted and applied by courts.
International law includes provisions on treaties, which are agreements between countries.