Codification is a process of organizing and arranging all legislation of a general and permanent nature into a Code.
A Municipal Code is the end product of the process of research, review, revision and organization of a town's local laws and ordinances into a comprehensive document. A codification must be formally adopted in order to establish it as a permanent and practical system of municipal law.
http://www.generalcode.com/codification/guidelines-presentation/local-laws-ordinances
The courts have held that "The law, to be just and effective, must be accessible and certain."
The major benefit of a codification is convenient access to information. Having an accurate, up-to-date representation of municipal law enables township officials to answer questions from citizens quickly and accurately.
http://www.generalcode.com/codification/guidelines-presentation/local-laws-ordinances
There are two categories of general legislation that are typically included in Codification:
1. Administrative.
Administrative legislation creates positions or departments of government and defines administrative functions, powers, duties and procedures.
2. Regulatory.
Regulatory or general legislation affects in some way the behavior of the general public.
The following types of legislation are not normally codified: enabling legislation; temporary legislation or annual measures.
A code traditionally does not include enabling legislation (that adopted to carry out a particular activity or event) or legislation relating to a particular person, place or event (e.g., agreements, appropriation or bond ordinances, salary ordinances or property transfers).
Temporary measures include building moratoriums or traffic controls established for a particular event or date. Annual measures include budget approvals, the designation of the official newspaper for the year or setting the dates of Board meetings.
http://WWW-presentation/local-laws-ordinances
Codification is basically a five-step process:
- Research
- Organization
- Review and Revision
- Publication
- Adoption
http://www.generalcode.com/codification/guidelines-presentation/local-laws-ordinances
Codification is available to the public in several formats.
1) Printed Code Books: Once adopted, a certified copy of the Code should be maintained by the Township Clerk. Often called a "vault copy," this volume serves as a permanent record of the Code contents at the time of adoption. An updated, current copy should be maintained by the Clerk's office for public inspection.
2) Software Versions: The text of the adopted codification can be provided in any number of popular word-processing formats for use by municipal officials on PC's.
3) Code on the Internet: If the township has a Website, the text of the Code can be placed on the Internet for access by citizens.
4) Printed Excerpts of Individual Chapters: Often developers, realtors, attorneys and other citizens need particular ordinances or local laws, rather than an entire Code volume.
http://www.generalcode.com/codification/guidelines-presentation/local-laws-ordinances
After adoption and distribution, the Code must be periodically updated or it loses its value. Regular periodic updates to add recent amendments should be prepared and distributed based on the frequency and amount of legislation adopted annually.
After a few years of routine supplementation, paper copies of the Code should be checked for accuracy by comparing to a control volume or a list of correct pages. A well-maintained Code is a valuable tool for municipal officials, one that fulfills a community obligation. It is the duty of every citizen to know the law, and it is the duty of the municipality to ensure that its laws are accessible, up-to-date and in a form and location that the average person can find and understand
http://www.generalcode.com/codification/guidelines-presentation/local-laws-ordinances
