What term is used to describe individual laws?

The term that describes individual laws is "statutes." Statutes are laws enacted by a legislative body, such as Congress at the federal level or a state legislature at the state level. They are formal written laws that establish legal principles and rules, which must be followed within the jurisdiction in which they are enacted.

In the context of Pennsylvania law, statutes are significant because they provide the legal framework governing various aspects of society, including criminal laws, civil laws, and administrative regulations. When a legislative body passes a statute, it reflects the collective decision-making of elected representatives and establishes specific rights, obligations, and penalties.

While regulations, ordinances, and bylaws also involve legal authority, they are derived from statutes or apply to narrower contexts. Regulations are rules made by governmental agencies based on statutes; ordinances are laws enacted by local governments, typically addressing local issues; and bylaws are rules adopted by organizations or corporations to govern their internal affairs. However, the term that specifically refers to individual laws created by a legislative body is statutes.