What term refers to a written ordinance of a legislative body, such as Congress, or a statute?

• A. Act
• B. Law
• C. Decree
• D. Regulation

Answer: (A)

An act is the formal written instrument produced by a legislative body after it approves a bill. It becomes the enacted piece of legislation and is the written document lawmakers use to specify the law. While a statute is another word often used for such laws, the term that most directly refers to the written ordinance itself is an act. A law describes the broader idea of rules, not the specific document; a decree is an order from a ruler or executive outside the regular legislature, and a regulation is a rule created by an administrative agency to implement laws. So the written instrument created by Congress is an act.