Ask Difference

Law vs. Constitution — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on June 2, 2024
The law is a system of rules enforced by social institutions, while a constitution is a fundamental set of principles governing a state.
Law vs. Constitution — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Law and Constitution

ADVERTISEMENT

Key Differences

Law refers to the rules that are created and enforced by governing bodies within a society to regulate behavior, ensure order, and provide justice. These rules are concrete and are applied to specific situations. Laws are made within the framework provided by the Constitution, which itself is the highest law. Constitution is the supreme legal document in a country, outlining the structure of government, its functions, and the fundamental rights of the citizens. It is considered the foundation upon which the legal system of a state is built.
Laws are often detailed, covering various aspects of governance and social conduct, and can be amended or repealed relatively easily by legislative bodies. The Constitution, on the other hand, generally embodies more abstract principles and requires a more rigorous process for changes, often involving supermajorities or referendums.
While laws can be specific to different areas like tax, criminal, or civil laws, the Constitution usually maintains a broad scope, establishing the overarching legal and governmental framework. It sets the boundaries and guidelines within which laws must operate.
Laws are enforced by law enforcement agencies and interpreted by the judiciary. The Constitution provides the authority and limitations for these agencies, including the courts, and ensures that laws align with the broader principles it establishes, such as human rights and separation of powers.

Comparison Chart

Definition

A rule established by a government
The fundamental principles of a state
ADVERTISEMENT

Changeability

Easily amended or repealed
Difficult to amend, requiring special procedures

Scope

Specific to different areas
Broad, establishing governmental structure

Enforcement

By law enforcement agencies
Provides the basis for legal authority

Purpose

To regulate specific behaviors
To outline rights and framework of governance

Compare with Definitions

Law

A rule enacted by a legislative body.
The new law requires all vehicles to stop at red traffic lights.

Constitution

The system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribes the nature of a government.
The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution in various legal matters.

Law

A body of rules for the conduct of individuals and institutions.
Breaking the law can result in fines or imprisonment.

Constitution

The basic written or unwritten laws and rights in a country.
Freedom of speech is protected by the Constitution.

Law

Regulations established by an authority to maintain order.
Traffic laws help prevent accidents on the road.

Constitution

A set of fundamental principles for a governing body.
The country's Constitution was drafted to ensure democratic governance.

Law

Law is a system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and the art of justice.

Constitution

The document that describes the rights of citizens and the distribution of power.
The Constitution outlines the separation of powers among branches of government.

Law

A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.

Constitution

A charter that embodies the principles of a political entity.
Amendments to the Constitution require a two-thirds majority.

Law

The body of rules and principles governing the affairs of a community and enforced by a political authority; a legal system
International law.

Constitution

A constitution is an aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.When these principles are written down into a single document or set of legal documents, those documents may be said to embody a written constitution; if they are encompassed in a single comprehensive document, it is said to embody a codified constitution. The Constitution of the United Kingdom is a notable example of an uncodified constitution; it is instead written in numerous fundamental Acts of a legislature, court cases or treaties.Constitutions concern different levels of organizations, from sovereign countries to companies and unincorporated associations.

Law

The condition of social order and justice created by adherence to such a system
A breakdown of law and civilized behavior.

Constitution

The act or process of composing, setting up, or establishing.

Law

A set of rules or principles dealing with a specific area of a legal system
Tax law.
Criminal law.

Constitution

The composition or structure of something; makeup.

Law

A statute, ordinance, or other rule enacted by a legislature.

Constitution

The physical makeup of a person
Having a strong constitution, she had no trouble climbing the mountain.

Law

A judicially established legal requirement; a precedent.

Constitution

The system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribes the nature, functions, and limits of a government or another institution.

Law

The system of judicial administration giving effect to the laws of a community
All citizens are equal before the law.

Constitution

The document in which such a system is recorded.

Law

Legal action or proceedings; litigation
Submit a dispute to law.

Constitution

Constitution The supreme law of the United States, consisting of the document ratified by the original thirteen states (1787-1790) and subsequent amendments.

Law

An impromptu or extralegal system of justice substituted for established judicial procedure
Frontier law.

Constitution

The act, or process of setting something up, or establishing something; the composition or structure of such a thing; its makeup.

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).

Constitution

(government) The formal or informal system of primary principles and laws that regulates a government or other institutions.

Law

(Informal) A police officer. Often used with the.

Constitution

(law) A legal document describing such a formal system.

Law

The science and study of law; jurisprudence.

Constitution

(Catholicism) A document issued by a religious authority serving to promulgate some particular church laws or doctrines.

Law

Knowledge of law.

Constitution

A person's physical makeup or temperament, especially in respect of robustness.
He has a strong constitution, so he should make a quick recovery from the illness.

Law

The profession of an attorney.

Constitution

(dated) The general health of a person.

Law

Something, such as an order or a dictum, having absolute or unquestioned authority
The commander's word was law.

Constitution

The act or process of constituting; the action of enacting, establishing, or appointing; enactment; establishment; formation.

Law

A body of principles or precepts held to express the divine will, especially as revealed in the Bible.

Constitution

The state of being; that form of being, or structure and connection of parts, which constitutes and characterizes a system or body; natural condition; structure; texture; conformation.
The physical constitution of the sun.

Law

The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Constitution

The aggregate of all one's inherited physical qualities; the aggregate of the vital powers of an individual, with reference to ability to endure hardship, resist disease, etc.; as, a robust constitution.
Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the vices or luxuries of the old world.

Law

A code of principles based on morality, conscience, or nature.

Constitution

The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament.
He defended himself with . . . less passion than was expected from his constitution.

Law

A rule or custom generally established in a particular domain
The unwritten laws of good sportsmanship.

Constitution

The fundamental, organic law or principles of government of men, embodied in written documents, or implied in the institutions and usages of the country or society; also, a written instrument embodying such organic law, and laying down fundamental rules and principles for the conduct of affairs.
Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact definitions.

Law

A way of life
The law of the jungle.

Constitution

An authoritative ordinance, regulation or enactment; especially, one made by a Roman emperor, or one affecting ecclesiastical doctrine or discipline; as, the constitutions of Justinian.
The positive constitutions of our own churches.
A constitution of Valentinian addressed to Olybrius, then prefect of Rome, for the regulation of the conduct of advocates.

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.

Constitution

Law determining the fundamental political principles of a government

Law

A generalization based on consistent experience or results
The law of supply and demand.

Constitution

The act of forming something;
The constitution of a PTA group last year
It was the establishment of his reputation
He still remembers the organization of the club

Law

(Mathematics) A general principle or rule that is assumed or that has been proven to hold between expressions.

Constitution

The way in which someone or something is composed

Law

A principle of organization, procedure, or technique
The laws of grammar.
The laws of visual perspective.

Constitution

United States 44-gun frigate that was one of the first three naval ships built by the United States; it won brilliant victories over British frigates during the War of 1812 and is without doubt the most famous ship in the history of the United States Navy; it has been rebuilt and is anchored in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston

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.

Law

The body of such rules that pertain to a particular topic.
Property law
Commercial hunting and fishing law

Law

Common law, as contrasted with equity.

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.

Law

(more generally) A rule, such as:

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

Law

A rule or principle regarding the construction of language or art.
The laws of playwriting and poetry

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.

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.

Law

Any statement of the relation of acts and conditions to their consequences.
The law of scarcity
The law of supply and demand

Law

(linguistics) A sound law; a regular change in the pronunciation of a language.
Grimm's law
Dahl's law

Law

(cricket) One of the official rules of cricket as codified by the its (former) governing body, the MCC.

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.

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

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.

Law

Jurisprudence, the field of knowledge which encompasses these rules.
She went to university to study law.

Law

Litigation; legal action (as a means of maintaining or restoring order, redressing wrongs, etc).
They were quick to go to law.

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.

Law

(aviation) A mode of operation of the flight controls of a fly-by-wire aircraft.
Normal law; alternate law; direct law

Law

(fantasy) One of two metaphysical forces ruling the world in some fantasy settings, also called order, and opposed to chaos.

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".}}

Law

(obsolete) A tumulus of stones.

Law

A hill.

Law

A score; share of expense; legal charge.

Law

(obsolete) To work as a lawyer; to practice law.

Law

To prosecute or sue (someone), to litigate.

Law

(nonstandard) To rule over (with a certain effect) by law; to govern.

Law

(informal) To enforce the law.

Law

To subject to legal restrictions.

Law

(dated) An exclamation of mild surprise; lawks.

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.

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.

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.

Law

An organic rule, as a constitution or charter, establishing and defining the conditions of the existence of a state or other organized community.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Law

An oath, as in the presence of a court.

Law

An exclamation of mild surprise.

Law

Legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity;
There is a law against kidnapping

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

Law

A generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature;
The laws of thermodynamics

Law

A rule or body of rules of conduct inherent in human nature and essential to or binding upon human society

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

Law

The force of policemen and officers;
The law came looking for him

Law

The branch of philosophy concerned with the law and the principles that lead courts to make the decisions they do

Law

Principles governing conduct within a community.
The law of the land dictates that everyone is equal before the court.

Law

A system of rules recognized by a country or community.
According to international law, these waters are outside any national jurisdiction.

Common Curiosities

What is a constitution?

A constitution is the fundamental set of principles and laws that outlines the framework of a government.

Can a law violate the constitution?

No, laws cannot violate the constitution; they must be in accordance with it.

Who ensures that laws adhere to the constitution?

The judiciary, particularly constitutional courts or supreme courts, ensures laws adhere to the constitution.

What is the law?

The law refers to the set of rules and standards set by a society to govern behavior.

Do all countries have a written constitution?

No, some countries like the United Kingdom have an unwritten constitution formed by statutes, judicial decisions, and conventions.

Who enforces the law?

Laws are enforced by governmental agencies such as the police and the judiciary.

Can a constitution be amended?

Yes, but the process is usually more complex and requires a larger consensus or special procedures.

Is the constitution a law?

The constitution is the supreme law from which all other laws derive their authority.

How is a law made?

A law is typically made through a legislative process involving debate, amendment, and ratification by a governing body.

How is a constitution created?

A constitution is created through a constituent assembly, convention, or similar body and often ratified by the public or a legislative body.

Can laws change easily?

Yes, laws can be amended or repealed relatively easily through legislative processes.

Are all laws written?

Most modern laws are written, but some can be based on tradition or judicial decisions.

What rights does the constitution protect?

Constitutions typically protect fundamental human rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.

What happens if a law is unconstitutional?

If a law is found unconstitutional, it is nullified and cannot be enforced.

Can individuals contribute to changing the law or constitution?

Yes, individuals can advocate for legal changes and, in some countries, can contribute directly through referendums or initiatives.

Share Your Discovery

Share via Social Media
Embed This Content
Embed Code
Share Directly via Messenger
Link
Previous Comparison
Homeless vs. Bum
Next Comparison
Poppa vs. Papa

Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms