Which term encompasses laws created by U.S. and state legislators?

The correct choice highlights statutory law, which refers to laws that are enacted by legislative bodies at both the federal and state levels. Statutory laws are written laws that are formally codified and can be found in various legal codes, such as the U.S. Code or state statutes. These laws govern a wide range of legal matters, providing clarity and uniformity in how laws operate.

In contrast, common law is developed through judicial decisions and precedents rather than written statutes, meaning it evolves based on the outcomes of individual cases over time. Case law is a subset of common law that specifically pertains to the decisions made in past legal cases, influencing how statutes may be interpreted in future cases. The term "culpa" refers to culpability or fault in a legal context, which does not apply to the nature of laws itself.

Thus, statutory law is fundamentally important because it represents the codified legal framework established by the legislative process, providing the foundation upon which many other types of law, including common law and case law, can operate.