Municipal Corporation in United States

Municipal Corporation Definition

A public corporation, created by government for political purposes, and having subordinate and local powers of legislation; e. g., a county, town, city, etc. 2 Kent, Comm. 275; Angell & A. Corp. 9, 29; 1 Baldw. (U. S.) 222. An incorporation of persons, inhabitants of a particular place, or connected with a particular district, enabling them to conduct its local civil government. Glover, Mun. Corp. 1. The incorporation, by authority of the government, of the inhabitants of a particular place, and authorizing them, in their corporate capacity, to exercise certain specified powers with respect to their local government. Dill. Mun. Corp. § 2. In modern usage, the term is somewhat narrower, and is generally confined to bodies politic, specially organized or chartered, and excluding the ordinary political divisions of the state. In this sense, it includes cities and villages, but excludes counties, townships, or school districts. 44 Wis. 489; 34 Iowa, 84; 52 Mo. 309. But see 36 Minn. 430. In English Law. A body of persons In a town having the powers of acting as one person, of holding and transmitting property, and of regulating the government of the town. Such corporations existed in the chief towns of England (as of other countries) from very early times, deriving their authority from “incorporating” charters granted by the crown. Wharton.

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A public corporation, created by government for political purposes, and having subordinate and local powers of legislation; e. g., a county, town, city, etc. 2 Kent, Comm. 275; Angell & A. Corp. 9, 29; 1 Baldw. (U. S.) 222. An incorporation of persons, inhabitants of a particular place, or connected with a particular district, enabling them to conduct its local civil government. Glover, Mun. Corp. 1. The incorporation, by authority of the government, of the inhabitants of a particular place, and authorizing them, in their corporate capacity, to exercise certain specified powers with respect to their local government. Dill. Mun. Corp. § 2. In modern usage, the term is somewhat narrower, and is generally confined to bodies politic, specially organized or chartered, and excluding the ordinary political divisions of the state. In this sense, it includes cities and villages, but excludes counties, townships, or school districts. 44 Wis. 489; 34 Iowa, 84; 52 Mo. 309. But see 36 Minn. 430. In English Law. A body of persons In a town having the powers of acting as one person, of holding and transmitting property, and of regulating the government of the town. Such corporations existed in the chief towns of England (as of other countries) from very early times, deriving their authority from “incorporating” charters granted by the crown. Wharton.

Municipal Corporation Background