What are differences between code and law?

Answer 1

Especially in common law systems like the United States, the term "law" is much broader than "code."

"Code" only refers to statutes passed by the legislature and promulgated in an official code service (e.g., United States Code). While this is one form of "law" (enforceable governmental norm), other forms of law in the United States include regulations (rules passed in response to code by administrative agencies, e.g., through notice and comment), and binding judicial precedent ("case law"). There's also the law that comes from the nation's founding document, like the United States Constitution.

In practice, there is little difference between these sources of law. All of them can be binding and enforceable. However, there's also a hierarchy of the sources of law, which can change exactly how enforceable each one is. For example, the United States Code cannot overturn anything in the United States Constitution, and Agency Rules and Regulations cannot change anything in the United States Code. Finally, judicial precedent only seeks to clarify the impact and meaning of the Constitution, Code, and Regulations, and cannot change the Code itself unless it violates the Constitution, or the Regulations unless they violate the Code.

The essential difference between Code and Law, then, is that Code is one type of Law. Further, the law is always valid and enforceable, whereas Code might not always be (e.g., if it is unconstitutional).