What does it mean to codify?

Codifying refers to the process of collecting and organizing statutes, regulations, and legal principles into a systematic code or collection. This approach aims to bring clarity and accessibility to the law by consolidating disparate legal texts into a single, coherent body. Codification is an important legal process as it assists in making the law more understandable and navigable for legal practitioners, judges, and the general public. By compiling laws in an organized manner, it ensures that users can easily find and reference the laws applicable to various situations.

In contrast, creating laws from scratch involves drafting entirely new legislation without relying on existing statutes. Eliminating outdated laws refers to the process of repealing or revoking laws that are no longer relevant or effective. Interpreting legal texts involves analyzing and explaining the meaning and application of laws rather than organizing them into a codified format. Thus, the act of codifying uniquely captures the essence of systematically organizing a body of laws.