Defining Municipalities
In Maryland, the term municipality includes cities, towns, and villages. A municipality is a corporate and political entity organized by the residents of the area to operate within a prescribed geographic area for the purpose of providing public services. The state grants the municipality the powers and authority that it exercises over its affairs. A municipality has at least the following characteristics:
- A distinct geographic territory
- A distinctly public character
- Formal organization
- General and specific powers to exercise
- Legal authority to exist
- Often (always in Maryland but not necessarily in other states) a formal, written set of basic laws commonly called a charter
- Public officials who are elected periodically
- Specific functions to perform or services to provide
Municipalities are creatures of the state. In Maryland, they are primarily governed by Article XI-E of the State Constitution and the Local Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.