Basic Law
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Basic Law
The constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany, which establishes the fundamental legal and political order.
Die Würde des Menschen ist laut Grundgesetz unantastbar.
According to the Basic Law, human dignity is inviolable.
The word is made up of 'Grund' (foundation/basic reason) and 'Gesetz' (law). A 'Grundgesetz' is therefore literally a basic or fundamental law on which everything else is built.
Die Pressefreiheit ist ein wichtiger Teil des Grundgesetzes.
Freedom of the press is an important part of the Basic Law.
'Das Grundgesetz' (the Basic Law) is the official name of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is therefore a proper name and is often used without further explanation for this specific document.
Artikel 1 im Grundgesetz ist besonders bekannt.
Article 1 of the Basic Law is especially well known.
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that it is not about politics or law, but about personal values or unwritten rules in a social context.
Pünktlichkeit ist in unserer Firma ein ungeschriebenes Grundgesetz.
Punctuality is an unwritten basic principle in our company.
rule / period
'die Regel' and 'das Grundgesetz' can both have to do with fixed rules or important principles. 'Regel' is much more general and can occur in many areas, for example at school, in traffic, or in a game. 'Das Grundgesetz' usually refers to Germany's constitution, that is, the most important legal foundations of the state. In a figurative sense, it can also mean a very fundamental principle. The words can be confused because both sound binding. But 'Grundgesetz' is much stronger and more fundamental than a normal rule.
In der Schule sprechen wir heute über die Rechte im Grundgesetz.
At school today, we are talking about the rights in the Basic Law.
Am Wochenende gilt bei uns die Regel, dass alle beim Frühstück helfen.
On weekends, we have the rule that everyone helps with breakfast.