Law vs. Constitution — What's the Difference?

A rule enacted by a legislative body.

The system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribes the nature of a government.

A body of rules for the conduct of individuals and institutions.

The basic written or unwritten laws and rights in a country.

Regulations established by an authority to maintain order.

A set of fundamental principles for a governing body.

Law is a system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and the art of justice.

The document that describes the rights of citizens and the distribution of power.

A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.

A charter that embodies the principles of a political entity.

The body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority; a legal system

A constitution is an aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.When these principles are written down into a single document or set of legal documents, those documents may be said to embody a written constitution; if they are encompassed in a single comprehensive document, it is said to embody a codified constitution. The Constitution of the United Kingdom is a notable example of an uncodified constitution; it is instead written in numerous fundamental Acts of a legislature, court cases or treaties.Constitutions concern different levels of organizations, from sovereign countries to companies and unincorporated associations.

The condition of social order and justice created by adherence to such a system

The act or process of composing, setting up, or establishing.

A set of rules or principles dealing with a specific area of a legal system

The composition or structure of something; makeup.

A statute, ordinance, or other rule enacted by a legislature.

The physical makeup of a person

A judicially established legal requirement; a precedent.

The system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribes the nature, functions, and limits of a government or another institution.

The system of judicial administration giving effect to the laws of a community

The document in which such a system is recorded.

Legal action or proceedings; litigation

Constitution The supreme law of the United States, consisting of the document ratified by the original thirteen states (1787-1790) and subsequent amendments.

An impromptu or extralegal system of justice substituted for established judicial procedure

The act, or process of setting something up, or establishing something; the composition or structure of such a thing; its makeup.

An agency or agent responsible for enforcing the law. Often used with the

(government) The formal or informal system of primary principles and laws that regulates a government or other institutions.

(Informal) A police officer. Often used with the.

(law) A legal document describing such a formal system.

The science and study of law; jurisprudence.

(Catholicism) A document issued by a religious authority serving to promulgate some particular church laws or doctrines.

Knowledge of law.

A person's physical makeup or temperament, especially in respect of robustness.

The profession of an attorney.

(dated) The general health of a person.

Something, such as an order or a dictum, having absolute or unquestioned authority

The act or process of constituting; the action of enacting, establishing, or appointing; enactment; establishment; formation.

A body of principles or precepts held to express the divine will, especially as revealed in the Bible.

The state of being; that form of being, or structure and connection of parts, which constitutes and characterizes a system or body; natural condition; structure; texture; conformation.

The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.

The aggregate of all one's inherited physical qualities; the aggregate of the vital powers of an individual, with reference to ability to endure hardship, resist disease, etc.; as, a robust constitution.

A code of principles based on morality, conscience, or nature.

The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament.

A rule or custom generally established in a particular domain

The fundamental, organic law or principles of government of men, embodied in written documents, or implied in the institutions and usages of the country or society; also, a written instrument embodying such organic law, and laying down fundamental rules and principles for the conduct of affairs.

A way of life

An authoritative ordinance, regulation or enactment; especially, one made by a Roman emperor, or one affecting ecclesiastical doctrine or discipline; as, the constitutions of Justinian.

A statement describing a relationship observed to be invariable between or among phenomena for all cases in which the specified conditions are met

Law determining the fundamental political principles of a government

A generalization based on consistent experience or results

The act of forming something;

(Mathematics) A general principle or rule that is assumed or that has been proven to hold between expressions.

The way in which someone or something is composed

A principle of organization, procedure, or technique

United States 44-gun frigate that was one of the first three naval ships built by the United States; it won brilliant victories over British frigates during the War of 1812 and is without doubt the most famous ship in the history of the United States Navy; it has been rebuilt and is anchored in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston

(usually with "the") The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities.

The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic.

Common law, as contrasted with equity.

A binding regulation or custom established in a community in this way.

(more generally) A rule, such as:

Any rule that must or should be obeyed, concerning behaviours and their consequences. mores.}}

A rule or principle regarding the construction of language or art.

A statement (in physics, etc) of an (observed, established) order or sequence or relationship of phenomena which is invariable under certain conditions. theory.}}

A statement (of relation) that is true under specified conditions; a mathematical or logical rule.

Any statement of the relation of acts and conditions to their consequences.

(linguistics) A sound law; a regular change in the pronunciation of a language.

(cricket) One of the official rules of cricket as codified by the its (former) governing body, the MCC.

The control and order brought about by the observance of such rules.

(informal) A person or group that act(s) with authority to uphold such rules and order (for example, one or more police officers).

The profession that deals with such rules (as lawyers, judges, police officers, etc).

Jurisprudence, the field of knowledge which encompasses these rules.

Litigation; legal action (as a means of maintaining or restoring order, redressing wrongs, etc).

An allowance of distance or time (a head start) given to a weaker (human or animal) competitor in a race, to make the race more fair.

(aviation) A mode of operation of the flight controls of a fly-by-wire aircraft.

(fantasy) One of two metaphysical forces ruling the world in some fantasy settings, also called order, and opposed to chaos.

An oath sworn before a court, especially disclaiming a debt. wager of law", "wage one's law", "perform one's law", "lose one's law".}}

(obsolete) A tumulus of stones.

A hill.

A score; share of expense; legal charge.

(obsolete) To work as a lawyer; to practice law.

To prosecute or sue (someone), to litigate.

(nonstandard) To rule over (with a certain effect) by law; to govern.

(informal) To enforce the law.

To subject to legal restrictions.

(dated) An exclamation of mild surprise; lawks.

In general, a rule of being or of conduct, established by an authority able to enforce its will; a controlling regulation; the mode or order according to which an agent or a power acts.

In morals: The will of God as the rule for the disposition and conduct of all responsible beings toward him and toward each other; a rule of living, conformable to righteousness; the rule of action as obligatory on the conscience or moral nature.

The Jewish or Mosaic code, and that part of Scripture where it is written, in distinction from the gospel; hence, also, the Old Testament.

An organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community.

In philosophy and physics: A rule of being, operation, or change, so certain and constant that it is conceived of as imposed by the will of God or by some controlling authority; as, the law of gravitation; the laws of motion; the law heredity; the laws of thought; the laws of cause and effect; law of self-preservation.

In mathematics: The rule according to which anything, as the change of value of a variable, or the value of the terms of a series, proceeds; mode or order of sequence.

In arts, works, games, etc.: The rules of construction, or of procedure, conforming to the conditions of success; a principle, maxim; or usage; as, the laws of poetry, of architecture, of courtesy, or of whist.

Collectively, the whole body of rules relating to one subject, or emanating from one source; - including usually the writings pertaining to them, and judicial proceedings under them; as, divine law; English law; Roman law; the law of real property; insurance law.

Legal science; jurisprudence; the principles of equity; applied justice.

Trial by the laws of the land; judicial remedy; litigation; as, to go law.

An oath, as in the presence of a court.

An exclamation of mild surprise.

Legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity;

The collection of rules imposed by authority;

A generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature;

A rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society

The learned profession that is mastered by graduate study in a law school and that is responsible for the judicial system;

The force of policemen and officers;

The branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do

Principles governing conduct within a community.

A system of rules recognized by a country or community.

A constitution is the fundamental set of principles and laws that outlines the framework of a government.

No, laws cannot violate the constitution; they must be in accordance with it.

The judiciary, particularly constitutional courts or supreme courts, ensures laws adhere to the constitution.

The law refers to the set of rules and standards set by a society to govern behavior.

No, some countries like the United Kingdom have an unwritten constitution formed by statutes, judicial decisions, and conventions.

Laws are enforced by governmental agencies such as the police and the judiciary.

Yes, but the process is usually more complex and requires a larger consensus or special procedures.

The constitution is the supreme law from which all other laws derive their authority.

A law is typically made through a legislative process involving debate, amendment, and ratification by a governing body.

A constitution is created through a constituent assembly, convention, or similar body and often ratified by the public or a legislative body.

Yes, laws can be amended or repealed relatively easily through legislative processes.

Most modern laws are written, but some can be based on tradition or judicial decisions.

Constitutions typically protect fundamental human rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.

If a law is found unconstitutional, it is nullified and cannot be enforced.

Yes, individuals can advocate for legal changes and, in some countries, can contribute directly through referendums or initiatives.