ACT, among Lawyers, is an instrument in writing for declaring or justifying the truth of any thing; in which sense records, decrees, sentences, reports, certificates, &c. are called acts.
ACT of Parliament is a positive law, passed by the two houses of parliament, and assented to by the Crown, consisting of two parts, the words of the act, and its true sense and meaning; which being joined, make the law. The words of acts of parliament should be taken in a lawful sense. Cases of the same nature are within the intention, though without the letter of the act; and some acts extend by equity to things not mentioned therein. See LEGISLATION and STATUTE.