POL 123 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Municipal Corporation, Quarter Session, The Past (Film)

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Politics and Public Administration
• Course: POL 123
• Professor: Kyle Rae

Document Summary

Pre-industrial europe: municipal corporations emerged in european law in the 12th century. The earliest cities were autonomous, meaning they exercised powers and rights not necessarily granted by a higher authority. This made for very tense relations between these towns and cities and the growing power of the emerging nation states and local barons. Self regulation of local market, maintenance of local roads for efficient transportation of good, public safety, schools, almshouses. By the q8th century, towns and cities were redefined as legal institutions created by the nation state to deal with local issues. Cities could raise their taxes without the king"s approval. Back in 13th century britain there was a ward system in place. An oligarchy, small close group of elite controlled municipal government in the middle ages and it is the same thing in modern times. Competing municipality concepts: de facto - by fact (natural sovereignty) Thats how municipalities evolving in america before independence saw themselves.