Final answer:
The scenario where the U.S. Congress passes a bill for a new national education law describes the source of law known as a statute, which is a formal law enacted by the legislative body.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario described, where the U.S. Congress passes a bill outlining a new national education law, represents the creation of a statute. A statute is a formal written enactment by a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or country. In this scenario, the national legislative authority, the U.S. Congress, crafted and approved new legislation designed to regulate and guide an aspect of society, in this case, the field of education.
The ideas for potential legislation often originate from many sources, including the problems faced by society, constituents' concerns, political agendas, or events that affect a significant portion of the population. After gathering ideas and data, Congress proceeds to solve the identified problem, typically through the passing of a law, like the example given, which illustrates the role of Congress as enunciated in Article I of the Constitution.
The process of writing a law involves a series of steps, including drafting the bill, committee reviews, debates, amendments, and finally passing it through both houses of Congress. Once approved by Congress, the bill is sent to the President for signing, at which point it becomes a public law or statute, and part of the statutory law which, as outlined in Article VI, holds supremacy over state laws when conflicts arise.