Police Powers of a Municipality

The sovereign power of a state or city includes protection of safety, health, morals, prosperity, comfort, convenience and welfare of the public. Police power does not specifically refer to the right of state and local governments to create police forces. The exercise of police power can be in the form of making:

• laws, compelling obedience to those laws through physical means with the aim of removing liberty;
• legal sanctions; or
• other forms of coercion and inducements.

Police powers of a municipality are a major function among various governmental functions. Police power extends to all appropriate ordinances for the protection of peace, safety, health, and good morals of the people. General welfare is a generic term to describe police power.