You already know that statutes are one of the four primary sources of law. A statute is a written law enacted by a legislative body such as Congress, the state legislature, or city council, and then signed by an executive, such as a president, governor, or mayor.

At both the state and federal levels, statutes are published in three different formats: slip laws, session laws, and, finally, statutory codes. 

I. Slip Laws

A slip law is the first publication of a newly enacted statute. Once a...