legal system
Loading your saved state.
legal system
The entirety of all valid legal norms, such as laws and regulations, in a state, which regulate how people live together.
Jeder Bürger muss sich an die bestehende Rechtsordnung halten.
Every citizen must comply with the existing legal system.
'Rechtsordnung' (legal system) consists of 'Recht' (law) and 'Ordnung' (order), connected by an '-s-'. So the word literally describes the 'order of law,' meaning the entire system of laws and rules in a state.
Die deutsche Rechtsordnung basiert auf dem Grundgesetz.
The German legal system is based on the Basic Law.
This noun is often used with verbs that express a relationship to rules. Typical phrases are 'sich an die Rechtsordnung halten' (to comply with the legal system), 'gegen die Rechtsordnung verstoßen' (to violate the legal system), or 'die Rechtsordnung schützen' (to protect the legal system).
Wer gegen die Rechtsordnung verstößt, muss mit Konsequenzen rechnen.
Anyone who violates the legal system must expect consequences.
This is a formal term from law and political science. You find it mainly in specialist texts, official documents, and formal discussions about the state.
Das Gericht prüfte, ob das neue Gesetz mit der Rechtsordnung vereinbar ist.
The court examined whether the new law is compatible with the legal system.
legislation
Gesetzgebung refers here to all the enacted laws. Rechtsordnung is broader and means the entire system of applicable legal norms, which includes regulations as well as laws. Rechtsordnung is therefore more suitable when referring to the legal system as a whole.
Die Rechtsordnung des Staates umfasst Gesetze und weitere rechtliche Normen.
The state's legal system comprises laws and other legal norms.
Die Gesetzgebung des Staates umfasst alle dort geltenden Gesetze.
The state's legislation comprises all the laws in force there.
