A.3.1- Static abilities have no cost to activate and are always in effect while the permanent is in play. [CompRules 1999/04/23]
A.3.2- Some static abilities may have conditional clauses such as
"
A.3.3- A static ability may apply while a spell is on the stack. For
example, Kaervek's Torch. These are usually limited to restricting
targeting or countering of the spell, but also can include additional
costs ("As an additional cost to play...") and optional cost ("You may
pay
A.3.4- A static ability that modifies how or whether you can play a card applies while that card is in a zone from which it can be played (usually your hand). [CompRules 2002/02/20 - 412.4]
A.3.Ruling.1- Static abilities only affect things in play unless otherwise stated. See Rule T.7.2. [D'Angelo 1999/05/01]
Note- See Rule T.8 for information on the effects of static abilities.