In general, compliance means conforming to a rule, such as a specification, policy, standard or law. Regulatory compliance describes the goal that corporations or public agencies aspire to in their efforts to ensure that personnel are aware of and take steps to comply with relevant laws and regulations.
Due to the increasing number of regulations and need for operational transparency, organizations are increasingly adopting the use of consolidated and harmonized sets of compliance controls. This approach is used to ensure that all necessary governance requirements can be met without the unnecessary duplication of effort and activity from resources.
Laws and policies are very needed in our society as they help in maintaining law and order in the society and help in shaping political and social aspects of the society. Though policies and laws can be interrelated, they are definitely two terms having different purposes. No nation can go forward without having certain laws and policies.
A policy is that which outlines what a government is going to do and what it can achieve for the society as a whole. “Policy” also means what a government does not intend to do. It also evolves the principles that are needed for achieving the goal. Policies are only documents and not law, but these policies can lead to new laws.
Laws are set standards, principles, and procedures that must be followed in society. Law is mainly made for implementing justice in the society. There are various types of laws framed like criminal laws, civil laws, and international laws. While a law is framed for bringing justice to the society, a policy is framed for achieving certain goals.
Laws are for the people, and policies are made in the name of the people. Policies can be called a set of rules that guide any government or any organization. Laws are administered through the courts. Laws are enforceable in which the policies comply.
A law is more formal as it is a system of rules and guidelines that are derived for the welfare and equity in society. A policy is just informal as it is just a statement or a document of what is intended to be done in the future.
Summary
- Policies outline what a government is going to do and what it can achieve for society as a whole. Policies also mean what a government does not intend to do.
- Policies are only documents and not law, but these policies can lead to new laws.
- Laws are set standards, principles, and procedures that must be followed in society. Laws are mainly made for implementing justice in society.
- While laws are framed for bringing justice to the society, a policy is framed for achieving certain goals.
- Laws are administered through the courts. Laws are enforceable in which the policies comply.
- A law is more formal as it is a system of rules and guidelines that are derived for the welfare and equity in society. A policy is just informal as it is just a statement or a document of what is intended to be done in the future.