Municipal

Strictly, this word applies only to what belongs to a city. Among the Romans, cities were called municipia. These cities voluntarily joined the Roman republic in relation to their sovereignty only, retaining their laws, their liberties, and their magistrates, who were thence called "municipal magistrates." With us this word has a more extensive meaning; for example, we call "municipal law" not the law of a city only, but the law of the state. 1 Bl. Comm. "Municipal" is used in contradistinction to "international." Thus, we say, an offense against the law of nations is an international offense, but one committed against a particular state or separate community is a municipal offense.