federal law
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federal law
A law that applies to the entire territory of a federal state, such as Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, and has been passed by its national parliament. It ranks above the laws of individual federal states or cantons.
Das neue Bundesgesetz zur Regelung der Migration tritt nächstes Jahr in Kraft.
The new federal law regulating migration will come into force next year.
The word is made up of 'Bund' (federation/federal government) and 'Gesetz' (law). 'Der Bund' is the term for the German or Austrian federal state. A 'Bundesgesetz' (federal law) is therefore literally a 'law of the federation'.
Der Bundestag hat ein neues Bundesgesetz verabschiedet.
The Bundestag passed a new federal law.
The word element 'Bundes-' is used for many institutions and terms at the national level. When you see 'Bundes-', it usually refers to the entire state, e.g. 'Bundeskanzler' (federal chancellor), 'Bundesland' (federal state), or 'Bundespolizei' (federal police).
Die Bundesregierung hat den Entwurf für das Gesetz vorgestellt.
The federal government presented the draft of the law.
In legal and political contexts, 'Bundesgesetz' (federal law) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical ones are: to 'verabschieden' (pass), 'beschließen' (adopt/decide on), 'ändern' (amend), or 'aufheben' (repeal) a law.
Die Opposition will das Bundesgesetz im Bundesrat stoppen.
The opposition wants to stop the federal law in the Bundesrat.
law
'das Gesetz' and 'das Bundesgesetz' both refer to binding state rules. 'Gesetz' is the general term and can mean many kinds of state rules. 'Bundesgesetz' is more precise: it is a law passed at the federal level and applies to the entire territory of a federal state. Learners may confuse the words because every 'Bundesgesetz' is a 'Gesetz'. But not every 'Gesetz' is a 'Bundesgesetz'. If the level is important, for example federal or state level, 'Bundesgesetz' is more precise. Otherwise, 'Gesetz' is usually enough.
Es ist kein Landesgesetz, sondern ein Bundesgesetz und gilt deshalb überall im Land.
It is not a state law, but a federal law, and therefore applies everywhere in the country.
Wir haben das neue Gesetz zur Gesundheit im Unterricht besprochen.
We discussed the new health law in class.