Government laws are a set of rules and regulations prescribed by a governing body to regulate and enforce behavior within a society. There are a variety of synonyms for government laws depending on the context: legislation, statutes, ordinances, regulations, bylaws, rules, mandates, directives, and codes. Legislation often refers to laws that are passed by a legislative body or parliament. Statutes are laws enacted by a governing body and serve as the primary source of law in a particular jurisdiction. Ordinances are laws passed by a local government to regulate specific matters within a municipality such as noise levels or building codes. Regulations and bylaws are more specific rules governing certain industries or activities, such as pharmaceutical regulations or workplace safety rules. Ultimately, all synonyms for government laws seek to establish a legal framework for a society to function properly.