A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a country, state, city, or county. Typically, statutes comman or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from the judicial decisions of the common law and the regulations issued by Government agencies. Statutes are sometimes referred to as legislation or "black letter law. As a source of law, statutes are considered primary authority (as opposed to secondary authority).