violation of an act of law

[Raf]

In terms of violating an act of law (like the Civil Rights Act for example), what will be the proper collocation?

to violate the act
to breach the act
to infringe the act
or something else?

Thanks in advance!

[Milanya]

One can either break the law or violate the law. I am not sure that one can do the same with an act (of law).
One can breach a contract and infringe on (upon) somebody's rights.
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con·text - The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning.

[Cerberus™]

My guess: when you're talking about "an act of law" you emphasize the process of creating a law; it is perhaps not often used with crime, because with crime the consequences of the law are more relevant than its creation.
"Violate" is possibly used rather with a specific act, such as the "Law of Property Act".

[Gray]

[Cerberus™]

Well, no, I think even criminals may be said to violate an act of law occasionally, but "act of law" is more often used when there is no violating at all. Such as the government making a law, not upholding or violating it.
Definiton according to dictionary: "An event which occurs in consequence of some principle of law." It appears to be a rather technical term in law, so perhaps you should ask a lawyer.
It is perhaps mostly used in certain fixed expressions such as "by act of law".