What legal term refers to a law enacted by a legislative body?

The correct term that refers to a law enacted by a legislative body is "statute." Statutes are formal written laws that are passed by a legislative body, such as Congress at the federal level, or state legislatures at the state level. When a legislative body makes a decision to enact a law, it does so through the process of drafting, debating, and voting on the proposed legislation, resulting in a statute once it is enacted.

To provide context, guidelines are typically recommendations for best practices and do not carry the same legal weight as a statute. Policies, while they may reflect the intentions or goals of an organization or government entity, also lack the legal enforceability of statutes. Regulations are rules created by administrative agencies to implement statutes, but they do not constitute laws themselves created through the legislative process. Therefore, "statute" is the appropriate term for laws enacted by a legislative body.