A statute starts as a bill and is eventually made law. Statutes are laws written and enacted by the legislative branch of government. Most new laws are created through statutes (as opposed to being created by judges through case opinions). It is important that you realize that you will frequently begin your research projects by looking at a statute, rather than at cases. Statutes are oftentimes unclear and must be interpreted or construed by later court decisions, especially with regards to their constitutionality.
