What are the primary sources of municipal law?
Primary sources of municipal law in Washington state come from a variety of sources. The most important is state law. The Washington State Constitution, statutes (or laws), and administrative rules are all part of state law that governs municipalities in Washington. A municipality is also able to pass ordinances, which are laws specific to the municipality. Additionally, a municipality is subject to court decisions, which can clarify existing laws or create new ones. Another source of municipal law is what is referred to as common law, which is an established body of legal principles, derived from decisions of courts and similar tribunals. The common law also sets out the general legal principles that a municipality is expected to follow. Finally, a municipality may rely on the opinions of attorneys and other legal professionals. Although these opinions are not legally binding, they can be consulted to provide guidance on how to interpret and apply the law. In summary, the primary sources of municipal law in Washington are state law, ordinances passed by the municipality, common law, and the opinions of legal professionals.
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