Act vs. Law: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 26, 2024
An Act is a formal decision or legislation passed by a legislative body, while a Law is a rule of conduct or action legally binding and enforced by a governing authority.
Key Differences
An Act is a document that records a formal decision or legislation passed by a legislative body, like a parliament or congress. In contrast, a Law is a broader term that encompasses any rule of conduct, action, or statute that is legally binding and enforced by a governing authority.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 26, 2024
Acts are specific pieces of legislation that have been debated, voted on, and approved by a legislative body. They become Law when they are enacted and gain legal force. Laws, however, include both Acts passed by legislative bodies and a broader range of legal rules, including those established by judicial decisions or regulatory agencies.
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Jan 26, 2024
The term 'Act' often refers to the written document itself that records the legislation. It becomes a part of Law once it is officially enacted. Conversely, 'Law' refers not just to individual statutes (Acts), but to the whole system of such statutes along with legal principles and jurisprudence.
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Jan 26, 2024
An Act is usually specific in its scope and application, addressing a particular issue or policy area. Laws, on the other hand, are more general and encompass various legal principles and statutory rules that govern society.
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Jan 26, 2024
While an Act is a step in the legislative process, becoming a part of the body of laws when enacted, Laws represent the entire body of legal rules that govern behavior and ensure order in a society.
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Jan 26, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A formal decision or legislation by a legislative body
A rule of conduct enforced by a governing authority
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Formation
Debated, voted on, and approved by a legislative body
Includes statutes, legal principles, and judicial decisions
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Scope
Specific, addressing particular issues
General, encompassing various rules and principles
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Jan 26, 2024
Nature
A step in the legislative process
The entire body of rules governing society
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Jan 26, 2024
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Act and Law Definitions
Act
A formal decision passed by a legislative body.
The Affordable Care Act was passed to reform healthcare.
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Jan 06, 2024
Law
Law is a rule of conduct legally binding and enforced.
Breaking the law by speeding results in a fine.
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Jan 06, 2024
Act
Act refers to the written legislation itself.
The act concerning environmental protection was signed into law.
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Jan 06, 2024
Law
Law is the body of rules that govern society.
The law requires paying taxes.
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Jan 06, 2024
Act
An Act is a specific piece of legislation.
The government introduced an act to improve public education.
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Law
A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
Acts become part of the law when enacted.
The act banning smoking in public places was recently enacted.
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Jan 06, 2024
Law
The body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority; a legal system
International law.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
An Act addresses a particular issue or policy.
The new tax act aimed at reducing financial inequality.
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Jan 06, 2024
Law
The condition of social order and justice created by adherence to such a system
A breakdown of law and civilized behavior.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
A set of rules or principles dealing with a specific area of a legal system
Tax law.
Criminal law.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
A statute or other law formally adopted by a legislative body
An act of Congress.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
The system of judicial administration giving effect to the laws of a community
All citizens are equal before the law.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
An impromptu or extralegal system of justice substituted for established judicial procedure
Frontier law.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
A performance or entertainment usually forming part of a longer presentation
A juggling act.
A magic act.
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Jan 05, 2024
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).
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Act
The actor or actors presenting such a performance
Joined the act in Phoenix.
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Act
A manifestation of intentional or unintentional insincerity; a pose
Put on an act.
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Act
To play the part of; assume the dramatic role of
She plans to act Ophelia in summer stock.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
Something, such as an order or a dictum, having absolute or unquestioned authority
The commander's word was law.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
A body of principles or precepts held to express the divine will, especially as revealed in the Bible.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
A rule or custom generally established in a particular domain
The unwritten laws of good sportsmanship.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To carry out an action
We acted immediately. The governor has not yet acted on the bill.
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Law
A generalization based on consistent experience or results
The law of supply and demand.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
(Mathematics) A general principle or rule that is assumed or that has been proven to hold between expressions.
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Act
To serve or function as a substitute for another
A coin can act as a screwdriver.
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Law
A principle of organization, procedure, or technique
The laws of grammar.
The laws of visual perspective.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic.
Property law
Commercial hunting and fishing law
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Act
(theology) Something done once and for all, as distinguished from a work.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
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
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
A rule or principle regarding the construction of language or art.
The laws of playwriting and poetry
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
A division of a theatrical performance.
The pivotal moment in the play was in the first scene of the second act.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
(countable) A performer or performers in a show.
Which act did you prefer? The soloist or the band?
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
Any statement of the relation of acts and conditions to their consequences.
The law of scarcity
The law of supply and demand
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Law
(linguistics) A sound law; a regular change in the pronunciation of a language.
Grimm's law
Dahl's law
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
A thesis maintained in public, in some English universities, by a candidate for a degree, or to show the proficiency of a student.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
(cricket) One of the official rules of cricket as codified by the its (former) governing body, the MCC.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
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
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
(intransitive) To do something.
If you don't act soon, you will be in trouble.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
Jurisprudence, the field of knowledge which encompasses these rules.
She went to university to study law.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
(intransitive) To perform a theatrical role.
I started acting at the age of eleven in my local theatre.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
Litigation; legal action (as a means of maintaining or restoring order, redressing wrongs, etc).
They were quick to go to law.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
(intransitive) To behave in a certain manner for an indefinite length of time.
A dog which acts aggressively is likely to bite.
I believe that Bill's stuck-up because of the way that he acts.
He's acting strangely - I think there's something wrong with him.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
(aviation) A mode of operation of the flight controls of a fly-by-wire aircraft.
Normal law; alternate law; direct law
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
(copulative) To convey an appearance of being.
He acted unconcerned so the others wouldn't worry.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
(fantasy) One of two metaphysical forces ruling the world in some fantasy settings, also called order, and opposed to chaos.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
(intransitive) To do something that causes a change binding on the doer.
Act on behalf of John
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Jan 05, 2024
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".}}
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To have an effect (on).
High-pressure oxygen acts on the central nervous system and may cause convulsions or death.
Gravitational force acts on heavy bodies.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
(transitive) To play (a role).
He's been acting Shakespearean leads since he was twelve.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
(transitive) To feign.
He acted the angry parent, but was secretly amused.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To map via a homomorphism to a group of automorphisms (of).
This group acts on the circle, so it can't be left-orderable!
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed.
That best portion of a good man's life,His little, nameless, unremembered actsOf kindness and of love.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a possibility or possible existence.
The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in possibility, what they afterward grow to be.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the point of (doing).
This woman was taken . . . in the very act.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To move to action; to actuate; to animate.
Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To perform; to execute; to do.
That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity.
Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting things expedient for us to do.
Uplifted hands that at convenient timesCould act extortion and the worst of crimes.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To assume the office or character of; to play; to personate; as, to act the hero.
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
An organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To feign or counterfeit; to simulate.
With acted fear the villain thus pursued.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To perform actions; to fulfill functions; to put forth energy; to move, as opposed to remaining at rest; to carry into effect a determination of the will.
He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To behave or conduct, as in morals, private duties, or public offices; to bear or deport one's self; as, we know not why he has acted so.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
To perform on the stage; to represent a character.
To show the world how Garrick did not act.
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
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Jan 05, 2024
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.
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program;
He did his act three times every evening
She had a catchy little routine
It was one of the best numbers he ever did
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
Legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity;
There is a law against kidnapping
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Jan 05, 2024
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
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
Perform an action, or work out or perform (an action);
Think before you act
We must move quickly
The governor should act on the new energy bill
The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
A generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature;
The laws of thermodynamics
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
Behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself;
You should act like an adult
Don't behave like a fool
What makes her do this way?
The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
A rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
Play a role or part;
Gielgud played Hamlet
She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role
She played the servant to her husband's master
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Jan 05, 2024
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
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
Discharge one's duties;
She acts as the chair
In what capacity are you acting?
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Jan 05, 2024
Act
Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind;
He acted the idiot
She plays deaf when the news are bad
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
The branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do
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Law
Law encompasses statutes and legal principles.
The law of contract governs agreements between parties.
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Jan 06, 2024
Act
Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected;
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
How does your idea work in practice?
This method doesn't work
The breaks of my new car act quickly
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
Law includes rules established by judicial decisions.
The law established by the Supreme Court becomes a precedent.
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Jan 06, 2024
Act
Be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure
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Jan 05, 2024
Law
Law is more general than specific acts.
Employment law covers a range of workplace issues.
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Jan 06, 2024
Act
Perform on a stage or theater;
She acts in this play
He acted in `Julius Caesar'
I played in `A Christmas Carol'
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Jan 05, 2024
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is an Act always specific?
Yes, it typically addresses a particular issue or policy.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 26, 2024
How does an Act become a Law?
By being enacted after approval by a legislative body.
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Jan 26, 2024
Are all Laws Acts?
No, laws can also include judicial decisions and regulatory rules.
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Jan 26, 2024
Can an Act be overturned?
Yes, by the legislative body or through judicial review.
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Jan 26, 2024
What does Law encompass?
Statutory rules, legal principles, and judicial decisions.
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Jan 26, 2024
Are Laws the same in every country?
No, they vary based on each country's legal system.
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Jan 26, 2024
Do Acts apply to everyone?
Yes, once enacted, they apply to all under the jurisdiction.
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Jan 26, 2024
Who enforces the Law?
Various authorities, like police, courts, and regulatory agencies.
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Jan 26, 2024
Do Laws evolve over time?
Yes, they can change with new Acts, amendments, or judicial interpretations.
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Jan 26, 2024
How are Laws interpreted?
By courts, based on the language and intent of the law.
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Jan 26, 2024
What happens if a Law is broken?
Legal penalties, such as fines or imprisonment, can be imposed.
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Jan 26, 2024
Can an individual propose an Act?
Generally, only members of the legislative body can.
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Jan 26, 2024
Are Acts part of the constitution?
They can be, but not necessarily; constitutions are a separate legal category.
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Jan 26, 2024
Who drafts Acts?
Typically, legislators or legal experts within the legislative body.
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Jan 26, 2024
Are all Laws written?
Most are, but some can be based on customary practices.
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Jan 26, 2024
Can an Act change existing Laws?
Yes, it can amend or repeal existing laws.
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Jan 26, 2024
Can a Law be unconstitutional?
Yes, if it violates the principles of the constitution.
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Jan 26, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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