Difference Between Act and Regulation (With Table)

Every county has government bodies and organizations that are responsible for passing different types of legislation. These legislations are practised and observed all over the country by specific groups of individuals. Every person in the country, who lives there or comes to visit there has to follow those legislations. Act and regulation are some of the commonly-known legislations.

Act vs Regulation

The main difference between an Act and a regulation is that the Act is the parent law whereas the regulations are subordinate and supplement in nature. An Act is supreme, on the other hand, regulations are its subsidiaries.

When a law is passed by the legislature, it is entitled as an Act. There is a procedure for making an Act. When a bill, introduced by a member of parliament or the government, is passed by both of the houses of the parliament, it is presented to the President for his concern. When the President gives his assent, the bill then turns into an Act.

On the other hand, regulation is approved by a group of individuals based on a passed Act. Regulations are the subsidiary legislation that defines the essence of the Acts. It also provides guidelines that show the way the Act needs to be implemented.

Comparison Table Between Act and Regulation

Parameters of Comparison

Act

Regulation

Definition

The act is a law that is approved by the respective legislative bodies like Parliament or State Legislative Assembly.

A regulation is a smaller set of rules that work accordingly with the Acts for clarification.

Procedure

When a bill is introduced by the government or a member of Parliament gets accepted by both of the two houses of the parliament, it is then presented to the President for acceptance. When the President gives his assent the bill is turned into an Act.

Regulations are the specific requirement within the legislation. It is made by the regulatory bodies for implementing laws appropriately.

Enacted by

Acts are enacted by legislative bodies.

Regulations are enacted by subsidiary legislation.

Type

Acts are the parent law, typically known as Acts of Parliament.

Reflections are subordinate and supplement in nature.

Publishing process

Acts are published as a single document and are available to the public.

Regulations are published in the Government Gazette.

What is Act?

When a law is passed by the legislature, it is entitled as an Act. This legislative body may be nationwide or state-wide. The Act is the provision enacted by the legislature or government for the public to understand the specific meaning of certain circumstances, how they are expected to behave or react in a certain situation, and the importance of following the Act. 

There is a procedure for making an Act. Firstly, a bill is introduced by the government or a member of Parliament and sent to get voted by both of the houses of the Parliament. If the bill passed in both of the houses then it is sent to the President of the country or the Governor of the state for approval. Once it was accepted, the bill turned into an Act which is a constitutional plan.

Acts are meant to deal with different aspects of the laws. Some Acts are substantial while some are procedural and some are private while some are public. 

What is Regulation?

Regulation is approved by a group of individuals based on a passed Act. Regulations are the subsidiary legislation that defines the essence of the Acts. It also provides guidelines that show the way the Act needs to be implemented.

In industries, regulations are specific formal rules that organizations and their workers follow. Therefore two main forms of regulation- self-regulation and government regulation. 

Self-regulation is the regulations that are followed by an individual or a business where they have control over how it fulfils the legislative requirements and government regulation is the natural extension of legislation.

Regulations are enforced by the regulators. They are produced by the regulating authority. They are not interfered with by the President or the head of the state. They are either enforced internally or externally. Regulations are published in the official or Government Gazette.

Main differences Between Act and Regulation 

  1. When a law is passed by the legislature, it is entitled as an Act. On the other hand, a regulation is a smaller set of rules that work accordingly with the acts for clarification.
  2. When a bill is introduced by the government or a member of Parliament gets accepted by both of the two houses of the parliament, it is then presented to the President for acceptance. When the President gives his assent the bill is turned into an Act. On the other hand, Regulations are the specific requirement within the legislation. It is made by the regulatory bodies for implementing laws appropriately.
  3. Acts are published as a single document and are available to the public. On the other hand, regulations are not passed before the Parliament houses, regulations are published in the government gazette.
  4. Acts are enforced by legislative bodies, whereas regulations are enacted by subsidiary bodies.
  5. The Act is the parent law whereas the regulations are subordinate and supplement in nature.

Conclusion

Act and regulation are quite different. An Act is needed in the statement/legal of law and regulation is required in the implementation detail. When a law is passed by the legislature, it is entitled as an Act. On the other hand, a regulation is a smaller set of rules that work accordingly with the acts for clarification.

There has always been confusion in understanding these two terms by people. In short, an Act is the supreme or parent law while regulation is the subsidiary of the Act. Act and regulation are both very important and essential for conducting organisations, society administration and a country as a whole in the right direction. Both provide a peaceful and fair environment.

References

  1. https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=zGI3BAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=definition+of+An+Act+in+Law+&ots=SbP13zxszV&sig=1R-jIwFYurqM0aXbTloHhDcYl7I&redir_esc=y
  2. https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ngykkvYDzy0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=what+is+regulation+&ots=Tdkax_kct1&sig=CeZ-WYBI1ruoJfJmzjSV_MOcz1Q&redir_esc=y