Statutes are laws passed by state legislatures (state laws) and by the United States Congress (federal laws). Statutes are one of the primary sources of law in the United States (sometimes referred to as statutory law) and cover a wide variety of legal topics. Courts often rely on statutes to resolve legal disputes (lawsuits) by applying the relevant statutes to the particular set of factual circumstances underlying the dispute.

Courts generally seek the clear and plain meaning of a statute, and if the court finds a statute ambiguous or “ambiguous on its face” (looking only at the words as written) the court may attempt to determine what the legislature intended in enacting the statute—known as legislative intent.

Related statutes are sometimes compiled in groups and referred to as codes—such as the penal code, the family code, or the code of civil procedure. Statutes may be amended (changed) or repealed (eliminated) by the legislature or Congress or declared unconstitutional (and thus unenforceable) by a court.

In New Hampshire, as in other states, statutes are laws that have been enacted by the state legislature or by the United States Congress. These laws encompass a broad range of legal areas and are a fundamental source of legal authority. When resolving legal disputes, New Hampshire courts interpret and apply these statutes to the facts of each case. The courts strive to discern the clear and plain meaning of the statutory language. If a statute is found to be ambiguous, the courts may look into legislative history and other interpretive aids to ascertain the legislative intent behind the statute. New Hampshire, like other jurisdictions, organizes related statutes into codes for easier reference, such as the criminal code or the civil procedure code. Statutes can be modified or repealed by the legislature, and they can also be struck down by the courts if deemed unconstitutional. It is the role of the courts to ensure that statutes are applied fairly and consistently in accordance with both state and federal constitutions.