Ordinance is a public law or regulation that is usually made by the governing body of a city, town, or village. In most cases, ordinances are only local in nature.
The name ordinance has also been given to regulations that serve as laws in newly settled territories, but are not actually constitutions. The Ordinance of 1787 was such a regulation. It provided for government in the Northwest Territory (see Northwest Ordinance). Ordinance may also refer to a church sacrament, such as Communion.
