Policy vs. Legislation — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 22, 2023
A Policy is a set of guidelines or principles set by organizations or governments, while Legislation refers to laws passed by a governing body.
Difference Between Policy and Legislation
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Both Policy and Legislation play pivotal roles in shaping societal and organizational directives. Policy, generally, refers to a course of action or principles adopted by entities, such as companies or governmental departments, to influence and determine decisions. On the other hand, Legislation denotes the act of crafting and enacting laws by a legislative body.
A Policy can be seen as more flexible, often changing with shifts in management, societal demands, or other external factors. Legislation, conversely, is more rigid; once a law is in place, it typically requires a deliberate process to amend or repeal.
In the business world, a company might have a Policy regarding employee conduct, or a return Policy for products. In contrast, Legislation affects broader swaths of the population and encompasses legal requirements, like regulations about environmental standards or tax codes.
It's essential to understand that while all Legislation impacts policies at various levels, not all policies have the weight of law. For instance, an organization's Policy on telecommuting doesn't override Legislation on worker's rights or minimum wage.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Set of guidelines or principles.
Laws enacted by a governing body.
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Flexibility
Generally more flexible and adaptable.
Rigid, requiring processes to change.
Scope
Can be specific to organizations or governmental departments.
Affects the larger population and has the force of law.
Creation
Formed by entities, like companies or governmental departments.
Formulated and passed by legislative bodies.
Enforcement
Enforced internally or through administrative procedures.
Enforced by the legal system and regulatory agencies.
Compare with Definitions
Policy
Principles guiding decisions and outcomes.
The school's anti-bullying Policy is strictly enforced.
Legislation
Laws or statutes passed by a legislative body.
The Legislation on environmental conservation was recently passed.
Policy
A statement of intent or protocol.
The return Policy ensures customer satisfaction.
Legislation
A set of rules enacted by a governing authority.
The tax Legislation affects both individuals and businesses.
Policy
A guiding protocol within a specific context.
The privacy Policy outlines data handling procedures.
Legislation
The body of laws enacted by a legislature.
The new Legislation aims to protect consumer rights.
Policy
Policy is a deliberate system of principles to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A policy is a statement of intent, and is implemented as a procedure or protocol.
Legislation
Law or statute formalizing policies or principles.
The healthcare Legislation remains a contentious issue.
Policy
A course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual
It is not company policy to dispense with our older workers
The government's controversial economic policies
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated (or "enacted") by a legislature or other governing body or the process of making it. Before an item of legislation becomes law it may be known as a bill, and may be broadly referred to as "legislation", while it remains under consideration to distinguish it from other business.
Policy
A contract of insurance
They took out a joint policy
Legislation
Laws, considered collectively
Housing legislation
Policy
An illegal lottery or numbers game
He swore that he had never played policy in his life
Legislation
The act or process of legislating; lawmaking.
Policy
A plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business, intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters
American foreign policy.
The company's personnel policy.
Legislation
A proposed or enacted law or group of laws.
Policy
A course of action, guiding principle, or procedure considered expedient, prudent, or advantageous
Honesty is the best policy.
Legislation
The act of legislating; preparation and enactment of laws.
Pass legislation
There is a lack of legislation about human cloning.
Policy
Prudence, shrewdness, or sagacity in practical matters
It is never good policy to speak rashly.
Legislation
Law which has been enacted by legislature or other governing body
Policy
A written contract or certificate of insurance.
Legislation
The act of legislating; preparation and enactment of laws; the laws enacted.
Pythagoras joined legislation to his philosophy.
Policy
A numbers game.
Legislation
Law enacted by a legislative body
Policy
A principle of behaviour, conduct etc. thought to be desirable or necessary, especially as formally expressed by a government or other authoritative body.
The Communist Party has a policy of returning power to the workers.
It's company policy that all mobile phones are forbidden in meetings.
Legislation
The act of making or enacting laws
Policy
Wise or advantageous conduct; prudence, formerly also with connotations of craftiness.
Legislation
The act of making or enacting laws.
Legislation is often a lengthy process involving debate and revision.
Policy
Specifically, political shrewdness or (formerly) cunning; statecraft.
Policy
The grounds of a large country house.
Policy
(obsolete) The art of governance; political science.
Policy
(obsolete) A state; a polity.
Policy
(obsolete) A set political system; civil administration.
Policy
(obsolete) A trick; a stratagem.
Policy
(obsolete) Motive; object; inducement.
Policy
(law)
Policy
A contract of insurance.
Policy
A document containing or certifying this contract.
Your insurance policy covers fire and theft only.
Policy
(obsolete) An illegal daily lottery in late nineteenth and early twentieth century USA on numbers drawn from a lottery wheel (no plural)
Policy
A number pool lottery
Policy
(transitive) To regulate by laws; to reduce to order.
Policy
Civil polity.
Policy
The settled method by which the government and affairs of a nation are, or may be, administered; a system of public or official administration, as designed to promote the external or internal prosperity of a state.
Policy
The method by which any institution is administered; system of management; course.
Policy
Management or administration based on temporal or material interest, rather than on principles of equity or honor; hence, worldly wisdom; dexterity of management; cunning; stratagem.
Policy
Prudence or wisdom in the management of public and private affairs; wisdom; sagacity; wit.
The very policy of a hostess, finding his purse so far above his clothes, did detect him.
Policy
Motive; object; inducement.
What policy have you to bestow a benefit where it is counted an injury?
Policy
A ticket or warrant for money in the public funds.
Policy
The writing or instrument in which a contract of insurance is embodied; an instrument in writing containing the terms and conditions on which one party engages to indemnify another against loss arising from certain hazards, perils, or risks to which his person or property may be exposed. See Insurance.
Policy
A method of gambling by betting as to what numbers will be drawn in a lottery; as, to play policy.
Policy
To regulate by laws; to reduce to order.
Policy
A line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government;
They debated the policy or impolicy of the proposed legislation
Policy
A plan of action adopted by an individual or social group;
It was a policy of retribution
A politician keeps changing his policies
Policy
Written contract or certificate of insurance;
You should have read the small print on your policy
Policy
A course of action adopted by an organization.
The company's Policy on remote work is flexible.
Policy
A rule or directive maintained by an entity.
The hotel's Policy doesn't allow pets.
Common Curiosities
Which has a broader impact, Policy or Legislation?
Legislation usually has a broader societal impact, while Policies may be limited to specific groups or entities.
Who creates Legislation?
Legislation is typically crafted and passed by legislative bodies, like Congress.
Can a company's Policy go against Legislation?
No, Policies must adhere to existing Legislation and cannot contravene the law.
Can organizations have their own Legislation?
No, organizations set Policies. Only governmental bodies enact Legislation.
Is a Policy legally binding like Legislation?
No, while Legislation is law, a Policy is a guideline, and not always legally binding.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
