municipal law

1. The law which pertains solely to the citizens and inhabitants of a state; as distinguished from commercial, political, or international law. "Municipal - law is the rule by which particular districts, communities, or nations are governed; and which is usually defined to be 'a rule of civil conduct prescribed by the supreme power in the state, commanding what is right, and prohibiting what is wrong.' Municipal- law is also a rule of civil conduct. The law of nature is the rule of our moral conduct. Municipal - law regards man as a citizen, and bound to other duties towards his neighbor than those prescribed by the law of nature; duties, which he has engaged in by enjoying the benefits of the common union; and which amount to no more than that he do contribute, on his part, to the subsistence and peace of the society." - Black stone: Comment. (Introd.,§ 1.) 2. Sometimes used in a narrower sense to denote the by-laws pa ed by a municipal corporation.