What does the term "statute" refer to?

The term "statute" refers to a law established by legislative action. Statutes are formal written laws enacted by legislative bodies, such as Congress at the federal level or state legislatures. These laws provide a framework for legal governance and establish rules and regulations that must be followed within the jurisdiction they cover.

Understanding statutes is crucial for any legal professional, including notaries, as they must operate within the laws established by these statutes. The other options refer to concepts that do not capture the essence of a statute. A process of notary verification is more related to the duties of a notary rather than a legislative law. A type of legal document can describe various categories of documents but lacks the specificity and authority of a statute. A form of notarized affidavit belongs to a particular class of legal documents and is not synonymous with statutory law. Thus, the most accurate definition is the one that identifies a statute as a law enacted through legislative action.