Law vs Legislation
 

Laws are required in every culture and society, to help maintain order and compliance to norms. While there is a qualitative difference between societal norms and laws that are enforceable by judiciary, laws serve the purpose of controlling deviant behavior. There is another word though that confuses many when it comes to understanding the law, and that is legislation. The laws of the land, before passage in the parliament, remain pieces of legislation and finally take the shape of laws to be followed by one and all. There are subtle differences between the two concepts though legislation is that precedes law.

Law

Law is a stream of study just like arts and science. It is a system of punishments that are meant for people who violate these written rules that are passed by the governments in place. In effect, there is a system of governance where elected legislators debate and pass rules and regulations in the interest of the society. When approved and passed by the parliament or any other assembly that may be in place, these rules become laws to be abided by all the citizens of the country.

The laws of a nation are often based more or less on the societal norms and become a tool in the hands of the government to keep a check on deviant behaviors in the society. Laws are written and codified and can be invoked in a court, to get punishments for those who violate these rules. There are many sources of law. While many of the laws of the land are contained in the constitution of the land that serves as the basis of laws made later, there are laws that take shape because of changes in the society and culture.

Legislation

Legislation is a word that is used for a law before it has become the law of the land; that is, when it is in the process of becoming a law. In fact, laws are rules and regulations that are proposed and debated in the parliament by the elected legislators. It is at this stage that a law is referred to as a piece of proposed legislation. In many countries, legislation is also referred to as a bill until it has been debated and passed by the houses of the parliament and received the President’s seal of approval.

Legislation can be passed, enacted, or promulgated depending upon whether it is a product of parliament or is made by the government of the day. When it is made by the house of parliament, legislation is moved, debated and amended before it is finally passed. Only after legislation gets President’s approval or sanction that it is referred to as the law of the land.

What is the difference between Law and Legislation?

• Law is the rule or regulation meant to uphold the constitution and the societal norms through a system or punishment by courts having coercive power.

• Law, before it is enacted or promulgated, remains in the shape of a piece of legislation.

• Legislation is also called a bill moved by a member of the legislative assembly that is debated and amended before passage by the house.

• Source of law can be constitution or legislative assembly, but legislation exists only in a legislative assembly or the house of a parliament.

• Legislation is the law in the making though there are also pieces of legislation that never see the light of the day and never become laws of the land.

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