Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of statutory law?

The essence of statutory law lies in its creation and implementation. It is primarily established by legislative bodies at various levels of government, which include federal, state, and local legislatures. This means that statutory law originates from formally enacted statutes, which are codified and accessible to the public.

While it's true that administrative agencies can wield significant power by creating regulations within the authority granted to them by legislative statutes, these regulations are not classified as statutory law per se. Instead, they fall under the broader category of administrative law, which derives from statutes but comprises rules and provisions established by governmental agencies to enforce those statutes. Therefore, the principal characteristic of statutory law—its creation specifically by the legislature—excludes administrative regulations from being defined as statutory law.

Additionally, statutory law is subject to interpretation by courts, particularly when there is ambiguity in the language of the statute. This reflects the dynamic nature of law, wherein courts play a pivotal role in elucidating and applying statutory provisions to specific cases, ensuring the law is applied consistently and fairly.

In summary, while legislative bodies create statutory law, administrative agencies produce regulations that guide the application of those laws, making the latter not a characteristic of statutory law itself.