Law vs. Regulation — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 19, 2024
Law is a system of rules created and enforced by governmental institutions, encompassing a broad range of directives; regulation, however, specifically refers to rules issued by administrative agencies to guide the implementation of laws.
Difference Between Law and Regulation
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Laws are established by a governing body, such as a parliament or congress, and serve as the foundation for governing a society. They are broad in scope, addressing issues from civil rights to criminal activities. Regulations, on the other hand, are more specific guidelines created by government agencies to ensure the effective application of laws. They detail how laws are to be followed or enforced in particular scenarios.
Laws are created through a legislative process that involves debate, amendment, and approval by elected officials. This process allows for public input and modification before a law is enacted. Regulations, however, are often developed by experts within government agencies and may not undergo the same level of public scrutiny or legislative debate.
While laws provide the legal framework and principles governing behavior, regulations fill in the details that apply those laws to daily life. For example, environmental laws may prohibit pollution, while regulations set specific limits on emissions for factories.
Laws must be passed by a legislative body and are subject to veto or approval by a head of state, making their creation a more transparent and democratic process. Regulations, however, can be updated or changed by agencies with less public involvement, allowing for more flexibility in responding to new information or changing conditions.
Compliance with laws is mandatory for all individuals and entities within a jurisdiction, with violations subject to legal penalties. Regulations also carry legal weight, but they specifically target certain industries or activities, with compliance often overseen by the issuing agency.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A system of rules enacted by a governmental body
Specific rules issued by administrative agencies
Creation
By legislative bodies (e.g., Congress)
By government agencies based on existing laws
Scope
Broad, covering various aspects of society
Narrow, focusing on specific details of implementation
Purpose
Establish principles and legal framework
Ensure laws are effectively applied and enforced
Compliance
Mandatory for everyone within the jurisdiction
Targets specific industries or activities
Compare with Definitions
Law
Can be amended or repealed by legislative action.
The outdated law was finally repealed this year.
Regulation
Detailed directives issued by government agencies.
The regulation limits the amount of pollutants industries can emit.
Law
Broad in scope, covering various aspects of society.
Criminal law deals with offenses against society.
Regulation
Often targets specific industries or activities.
Banking regulations aim to ensure the stability of the financial system.
Law
A system of rules that regulate behavior within a community or country.
The law prohibits theft.
Regulation
Can be updated or modified more easily than laws.
The agency updated the regulation to address new technology.
Law
Enacted by legislative bodies and enforced by the state.
The new law was passed by Congress last month.
Regulation
Compliance monitored by the issuing agency.
The environmental agency enforces regulations on water quality.
Law
Subject to judicial interpretation and enforcement.
The court interpreted the law to protect freedom of speech.
Regulation
Based on existing laws and provides implementation details.
The new regulations clarify the healthcare law's requirements.
Law
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.
Regulation
Regulation is the management of complex systems according to a set of rules and trends. In systems theory, these types of rules exist in various fields of biology and society, but the term has slightly different meanings according to context.
Law
A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.
Regulation
A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority
Planning regulations
Law
The body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority; a legal system
International law.
Regulation
The action or process of regulating or being regulated
The regulation of financial markets
Law
The condition of social order and justice created by adherence to such a system
A breakdown of law and civilized behavior.
Regulation
The act of regulating or the state of being regulated.
Law
A set of rules or principles dealing with a specific area of a legal system
Tax law.
Criminal law.
Regulation
A principle, rule, or law designed to control or govern conduct.
Law
A statute, ordinance, or other rule enacted by a legislature.
Regulation
A governmental order having the force of law. Also called executive order.
Law
A judicially established legal requirement; a precedent.
Regulation
(Embryology) The capacity of an embryo to continue normal development following injury to or alteration of a structure.
Law
The system of judicial administration giving effect to the laws of a community
All citizens are equal before the law.
Regulation
(Sports) The standard playing period for a timed game, prior to overtime or a shootout.
Law
Legal action or proceedings; litigation
Submit a dispute to law.
Regulation
(uncountable) The act of regulating or the condition of being regulated.
Law
An impromptu or extralegal system of justice substituted for established judicial procedure
Frontier law.
Regulation
(countable) A law or administrative rule, issued by an organization, used to guide or prescribe the conduct of members of that organization.
Army regulations state a soldier AWOL over 30 days is a deserter.
Law
An agency or agent responsible for enforcing the law. Often used with the
"The law ... stormed out of the woods as the vessel was being relieved of her cargo" (Sid Moody).
Regulation
A type of law made by the executive branch of government, usually by virtue of a statute made by the legislative branch giving the executive the authority to do so.
Law
(Informal) A police officer. Often used with the.
Regulation
A numbered provision within such kind of law.
Law
The science and study of law; jurisprudence.
Regulation
(European Union law) A form of legislative act which is self-effecting, and requires no further intervention by the Member States to become law.
Law
Knowledge of law.
Regulation
(genetics) Mechanism controlling DNA transcription.
Law
The profession of an attorney.
Regulation
(medicine) Physiological process which consists in maintaining homoeostasis.
Law
Something, such as an order or a dictum, having absolute or unquestioned authority
The commander's word was law.
Regulation
In conformity with applicable rules and regulations.
Law
A body of principles or precepts held to express the divine will, especially as revealed in the Bible.
Regulation
The act of regulating, or the state of being regulated.
The temper and regulation of our own minds.
Law
The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Regulation
A rule or order prescribed for management or government; prescription; a regulating principle; a governing direction; precept; law; as, the regulations of a society or a school.
Law
A code of principles based on morality, conscience, or nature.
Regulation
An authoritative rule
Law
A rule or custom generally established in a particular domain
The unwritten laws of good sportsmanship.
Regulation
A principle or condition that customarily governs behavior;
It was his rule to take a walk before breakfast
Short haircuts were the regulation
Law
A way of life
The law of the jungle.
Regulation
The state of being controlled or governed
Law
A statement describing a relationship observed to be invariable between or among phenomena for all cases in which the specified conditions are met
The law of gravity.
Regulation
(embryology) the ability of an early embryo to continue normal development after its structure has been somehow damaged or altered
Law
A generalization based on consistent experience or results
The law of supply and demand.
Regulation
The act of bringing to uniformity; making regular
Law
(Mathematics) A general principle or rule that is assumed or that has been proven to hold between expressions.
Regulation
The act of controlling or directing according to rule;
Fiscal regulations are in the hands of politicians
Law
A principle of organization, procedure, or technique
The laws of grammar.
The laws of visual perspective.
Regulation
Prescribed by or according to regulation;
Regulation army equipment
Law
(usually with "the") The body of binding rules and regulations, customs, and standards established in a community by its legislative and judicial authorities.
The courts interpret the law but should not make it.
In theory, entrapment is against the law.
Law
The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic.
Property law
Commercial hunting and fishing law
Law
Common law, as contrasted with equity.
Law
A binding regulation or custom established in a community in this way.
There is a law against importing wallabies.
A new law forbids driving on that road.
The court ruled that the executive order was not law and nullified it.
Law
(more generally) A rule, such as:
Law
Any rule that must or should be obeyed, concerning behaviours and their consequences. mores.}}
"Do unto others as you wish them to do unto you" is a good law to follow.
The law of self-preservation
Law
A rule or principle regarding the construction of language or art.
The laws of playwriting and poetry
Law
A statement (in physics, etc) of an (observed, established) order or sequence or relationship of phenomena which is invariable under certain conditions. theory.}}
The laws of thermodynamics
Newton's third law of motion states that to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.
This is one of several laws derived from his general theory expounded in the Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
Law
A statement (of relation) that is true under specified conditions; a mathematical or logical rule.
Mathematical laws can be proved purely through mathematics, without scientific experimentation.
Law
Any statement of the relation of acts and conditions to their consequences.
The law of scarcity
The law of supply and demand
Law
(linguistics) A sound law; a regular change in the pronunciation of a language.
Grimm's law
Dahl's law
Law
(cricket) One of the official rules of cricket as codified by the its (former) governing body, the MCC.
Law
The control and order brought about by the observance of such rules.
They worked to maintain law and order.
It was a territory without law, marked by violence.
Law
(informal) A person or group that act(s) with authority to uphold such rules and order (for example, one or more police officers).
Here comes the law — run!
Then the law arrived on the scene
Law
The profession that deals with such rules (as lawyers, judges, police officers, etc).
He is studying for a career in law.
She has practiced law in New York for twenty years.
Law
Jurisprudence, the field of knowledge which encompasses these rules.
She went to university to study law.
Law
Litigation; legal action (as a means of maintaining or restoring order, redressing wrongs, etc).
They were quick to go to law.
Law
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.
Law
(aviation) A mode of operation of the flight controls of a fly-by-wire aircraft.
Normal law; alternate law; direct law
Law
(fantasy) One of two metaphysical forces ruling the world in some fantasy settings, also called order, and opposed to chaos.
Law
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".}}
Law
(obsolete) A tumulus of stones.
Law
A hill.
Law
A score; share of expense; legal charge.
Law
(obsolete) To work as a lawyer; to practice law.
Law
To prosecute or sue (someone), to litigate.
Law
(nonstandard) To rule over (with a certain effect) by law; to govern.
Law
(informal) To enforce the law.
Law
To subject to legal restrictions.
Law
(dated) An exclamation of mild surprise; lawks.
Law
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.
These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the Lord made.
The law of thy God, and the law of the King.
As if they would confine the Interminable . . . Who made our laws to bind us, not himself.
His mind his kingdom, and his will his law.
Law
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.
Law
The Jewish or Mosaic code, and that part of Scripture where it is written, in distinction from the gospel; hence, also, the Old Testament.
What things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law . . . But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.
Law
An organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community.
Law
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.
Law
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.
Law
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.
Law
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.
Law
Legal science; jurisprudence; the principles of equity; applied justice.
Reason is the life of the law; nay, the common law itself is nothing else but reason.
Law is beneficence acting by rule.
And sovereign Law, that state's collected willO'er thrones and globes elate,Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.
Law
Trial by the laws of the land; judicial remedy; litigation; as, to go law.
When every case in law is right.
He found law dear and left it cheap.
Law
An oath, as in the presence of a court.
Law
An exclamation of mild surprise.
Law
Legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity;
There is a law against kidnapping
Law
The collection of rules imposed by authority;
Civilization presupposes respect for the law
The great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order
Law
A generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature;
The laws of thermodynamics
Law
A rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society
Law
The learned profession that is mastered by graduate study in a law school and that is responsible for the judicial system;
He studied law at Yale
Law
The force of policemen and officers;
The law came looking for him
Law
The branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do
Common Curiosities
Who creates laws?
Laws are created by legislative bodies, such as parliaments or congresses.
Do laws and regulations both carry legal weight?
Yes, both are legally binding, but laws are broader in scope.
Can regulations change without a new law?
Yes, agencies can update or change regulations within the scope of the law.
What happens if a regulation contradicts a law?
Laws take precedence, and regulations must be in compliance with them.
What is the main difference between a law and a regulation?
Laws are broad legislative acts, while regulations are specific rules set by government agencies to implement laws.
Who creates regulations?
Regulations are created by government agencies based on authority granted by laws.
Are regulations the same in every country?
No, regulations vary by country, reflecting different legal and administrative systems.
Are regulations less important than laws?
No, regulations are essential for the detailed implementation and enforcement of laws.
Do regulations apply to everyone?
Regulations usually target specific industries, activities, or issues.
How do laws and regulations interact?
Laws establish the legal framework and principles, while regulations provide the details for implementation.
Can the public influence regulations like they can with laws?
The public can often provide input during the regulatory process, but it's less direct than the legislative process for laws.
Can an individual be punished for violating a regulation?
Yes, individuals or entities can face penalties for non-compliance with regulations.
How are regulations enforced?
Specific government agencies are responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance.
Can regulations be challenged in court?
Yes, if an individual or entity believes a regulation is unfair or exceeds legal authority, they can challenge it in court.
Why are regulations necessary if we have laws?
Regulations provide the necessary details to apply and enforce laws in specific contexts.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
