MUNICIPAL LAW

A local ordinance or law, such as that of a town or village. Municipal law is defined by Mr. Justice Blackstone to be a rule of civil conduct prescribed by the supreme power in a state, commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong. This definition has been criticized, and has been perhaps, justly considered imperfect. The latter part has been thought superabundant to the first; see Mr. Christian’s note; and the first too general and indefinite, and too limited in its signification to convey a just idea of the subject. See Law, civil. Mr. Chitty defines municipal law to be a rule of civil conduct, prescribed by the supreme power in a state, commanding what shall be done or what shall not be done. 1 Bl. Com. 44, note 6, Chitty’s edit. 2. Municipal law, among the Romans, was a law made to govern a particular city or province; this term is derived from the Latin municipium, which among them signified a city which was governed by its own laws, and which had its own magistrates.