What is the Difference Between Act and Ordinance?

The main difference between an act and an ordinance lies in the level of government that enacts them and the scope of their applicability.

An act is a law passed by the federal or state legislature and applies to the entire country or state. Acts cover a wide range of areas and are enacted to maintain public order and provide information to the public regarding rules and regulations that apply at the national or state level. For example, laws against drunk driving are acts that apply to the entire country.

On the other hand, an ordinance is a law created by local legislatures, such as city or county governments, and applies only within the city or county limits. Ordinances usually deal with day-to-day life and aim to make life in the municipality better by making the environment more agreeable. For instance, a city ordinance may restrict the burning of weeds within city limits to maintain air quality.

In summary:

• Acts are passed by federal or state legislatures and apply to the entire country or state.
• Ordinances are passed by local legislatures, such as city or county governments, and apply only within the city or county limits.

Other differences between acts and ordinances include:

• Acts show what a government thinks, while ordinances show what a municipality thinks.
• Everyone in the country has to follow the laws established by different acts, but only people within the municipality have to follow the ordinances.

In some cases, ordinances can have the ability to supersede federal laws, depending on the circumstances.

Comparative Table: Act vs Ordinance

Here is a table highlighting the key differences between an Act and an Ordinance:

Acts are laws passed by the legislature and apply to the entire country, while ordinances are temporary laws enacted by the President or Governor when the Parliament or State legislature is not in session and apply to a specific municipality or region.