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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Law and Regulation?

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The main difference between laws and regulations lies in their sources and enforcement mechanisms.

  • Laws are created by legislative bodies, such as federal or state governments, and are passed as statutes or acts. They are the products of written statutes and are enforceable by law. Laws govern everyone equally and cannot be changed by a local agency or group.
  • Regulations, on the other hand, are standards and rules adopted by administrative agencies that govern how laws will be enforced. They are not laws themselves, but legal directives written to explain how to implement statutes or laws. Regulations can be more specific and detailed than laws, and they are enforced by the agencies responsible for creating them. Regulations apply to those who deal directly with the agency enforcing them.

In summary, laws are created by legislative bodies and apply to everyone, while regulations are created by administrative agencies to enforce laws and apply to specific individuals or entities dealing with the enforcing agency.

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  • What is the Difference Between Law and Regulation?
  • Comparative Table: Law vs Regulation

    • Comparative Table: Law vs Regulation

    Here is a table comparing the differences between laws and regulations:

    Feature Laws Regulations
    Definition Laws are a set of rules or a combination of rules that the courts can execute and are enacted by the legislative body. Regulations are created within the framework of the law to specify how the ideas of the law are to be implemented and enforced.
    Authority Laws are passed by a legislative body, such as the U.S. Congress or state legislatures. Regulations are created by administrative agencies, like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), for enforcing major laws.
    Purpose Laws govern the state's administration, determine how the state's citizens and governing bodies interact, and specify how people should behave with one another. Regulations help someone apply an action, create a set of rules to comply with, and enforce the law.
    Subordination Laws have a higher authority than regulations. Regulations are subordinate to both laws and rules.

    In summary, laws are enacted by the legislative body and govern the state's administration, while regulations are created by administrative agencies to enforce laws and specify how they should be implemented.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.