Which of the following is a specific requirement that must be followed in compliance with an act of law?

The correct answer is regulation. This is because regulations are specific requirements developed by governmental agencies to enforce laws. They provide detailed guidelines on how the provisions of a law will be implemented and enforced, ensuring compliance by individuals and organizations affected by that law.

Regulations often expand on the broad framework provided by statutes, which are laws passed by legislative bodies. While statutes outline the overall principles and rules, regulations specify the exact procedures and requirements individuals must follow to comply with those statutes. This operational detail is why regulations are critical to enforce compliance and administer laws effectively.

The other options represent different concepts. Bylaws typically pertain to rules set by organizations or associations for their own governance rather than being externally mandated legal requirements. Statutes are general laws enacted by legislatures but do not provide the precise details on compliance. Directives, often used in certain contexts such as governmental or organizational instructions, may also lack the authoritative power of regulations to compel compliance in a legal sense. Hence, regulations serve as the specific operational requirements needed to ensure adherence to a law.