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Difference Between Law and Ordinance

Laws are rules and regulations passed by legislatures to govern behavior for an entire country or region. Ordinances are similar local laws passed by municipal governments that apply only within their jurisdictions. While laws deal with broader issues, ordinances focus on local matters like parking, pets, noise levels and litter that affect daily life. The key difference is that laws have nationwide power while ordinances are limited to specific municipalities.

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603 views6 pages

Difference Between Law and Ordinance

Laws are rules and regulations passed by legislatures to govern behavior for an entire country or region. Ordinances are similar local laws passed by municipal governments that apply only within their jurisdictions. While laws deal with broader issues, ordinances focus on local matters like parking, pets, noise levels and litter that affect daily life. The key difference is that laws have nationwide power while ordinances are limited to specific municipalities.

Uploaded by

Charms
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Difference between Law and Ordinance

LAWS:

Laws are actually rules and guidelines that are set up by the social
institutions to govern behavior. These laws are made by government
officials that in some countries are elected by the public to represent their
views.

In simple terms, laws are basically things that a person can and cannot do.

Ordinances are laws that are passed by lower-level jurisdictions in a


country such as municipal government.

The municipal governments include city, town, village, borough and county
governments.

Municipal governments have been provided with the power to enact laws
through a statute and state constitution.

In order to establish a society it must follow a set of rules and


laws that help govern its smooth running. The laws and rules are
established to ensure that everyone is treated as the same.

The laws and rules ensure that each individual must follow a set
of guidelines and if/she ends up breaking any of those rules they
must accept the consequences no matter their social standing or
position.

The laws and rules used to maintain smooth and efficient


functioning of the society. Imaging a society with no rules, where
a person will be free to do as he/she wishes.
It will unleash chaos and the society will fall. Laws and rules go
hand-in-hand causing much confusion over their definitions.

To many people, including in legal terms, laws and rules are the
same and can be used simultaneously. However, these are
different words and used in different contexts.

Laws are actually rules and guidelines that are set up by the
social institutions to govern behavior.

These laws are made by government officials that in some


countries are elected by the public to represent their views.

In simple terms, laws are basically things that a person can and
cannot do. It is enforced by government officials such as police
officers, agents and judges.

Laws are ideas that must go through the process of checks,


balances and votes in order for them to become a law.

However, the enactment of a law varies based on the


government. In an autocracy, the leader has the power to pass
any law he wishes.

In a democracy, the bill to enact a law must be voted on by the


different parts of the government.

Laws must be obeyed by all, including private citizens, groups and


companies as well as public figures, organizations and
institutions.

Laws set out standards, procedures and principles that must be


followed. A law is enforceable by the judicial system, i.e. those
responsible for breaking them can be prosecuted in court.

There are various types of laws framed like criminal laws, civil
laws, and international laws.
Breaking a law is a punishable crime and has drastic
consequences such as hefty fines, jail time and community
service time.

Dictionary.com defines ‘law’ as:

 The principles and regulations established in a community


by some authority and applicable to its people, whether in the
form of legislation or of custom and policies recognized and
enforced by judicial decision.
 Any written or positive rule or collection of rules prescribed
under the authority of the state or nation, as by the people in
its constitution.
 The controlling influence of such rules; the condition of
society brought about by their observance.
 A system or collection of such rules.

ORDINANCES:
Ordinances are laws that are passed by lower-level jurisdictions in
a country such as municipal government.

The municipal governments include city, town, village, borough


and county governments. Municipal governments have been
provided with the power to enact laws through a statute and state
constitution.

Ordinances constitute the subject matter of the enacted law. In


some cases, these laws can also take precedence over the state
and federal laws depending on the law.
However, if the law is contradictory to the federal and state law,
the law can be challenged in court and can be null and void.

These laws only apply to areas that are under the jurisdiction of
the municipal government.

Most of these ordinances deal with public safety, health and


moral codes and general welfare.

The ordinances can include fire and safety regulations, noise


levels, littering, etc.

What is a Law?
Law is a generic term that covers all Acts, subordinates legislations, regulations, and
ordinances.

Laws of the land are meant to guide people so as to help them conform to the  norms of
the society.

Laws help in maintaining the public order. They deter people from engaging in criminal
behaviors and, in general, help in protecting people. Members of Parliament are the
lawmakers, and most of the Bills are introduced by the government, to make Acts that
become a part of the legislation.

While laws are passed by the parliament, it is for the judiciary to interpret these laws.
Implementation of laws is done through the executive, which is the government at the
center and at state levels.

What is an Ordinance?
Ordinance refers to the local level laws in some countries.
For example, municipal corporations are empowered to promulgate ordinances that are
in effect local level laws and take precedence over federal laws.

However, these ordinances are applicable only to city limits where they are in effect and
cease to apply in other areas.

There are as many city ordinances as there are municipalities in the country.

What is the difference between Ordinance and Law?


• Laws are rules and regulations passed by the legislature and are meant to protect and
control people in different circumstances.

• Ordinances in most countries are local level laws passed by municipalities and are
applicable within the city limits only. In some cases, they supersede central laws too.

• In India, ordinances are special acts promulgated by the government through the
President, who has been vested with this power.

• Law is relevant to the country as a whole. However, the ordinance made by a


particular municipality is only applicable to that municipality.

• Laws take into consideration every aspect of a country such as defense, health,
education, etc. Ordinances too take into consideration these areas. However, more
common areas that the municipalities take into consideration when making ordinances
are the areas that affect daily lifestyle of the people such as parking, looking after pets,
littering, etc.

• When compiling a law, the legislators have to consider how this law is going to affect
the whole country. However, when compiling an ordinance, the municipality has only to
think about how their ordinance is going to affect the people living inside the borders of
their municipality. When considering these factors, one can say that compiling an
ordinance is easier than compiling a law.

• An ordinance generally has limited powers. However, a law has more unlimited
powers than an ordinance as it is for the whole country without a problem of borders.

As you can see, all this difference between ordinance and law comes into being from
the place the law or the ordinance is formed. Once you get a clear understanding of
what is law and what is an ordinance, then understanding the difference between
ordinance and law will be easy.

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