By-law

A by-law (more properly spelled bylaw, and sometimes also spelled bye-law) is a rule or law established by an organization or community to regulate itself, as allowed or provided for by some higher authority. The spelling by law is not correct as it conveys the meaning that something has been declared under a law. As an example, in the early 1990s the Melbourne City Council in Australia sent a note to all residents regarding its weekly garbage collection, and headed the item "Melbourne City garbage by law"—in other words, a law had been enacted declaring the Melbourne City was garbage. Writing "by-law" provides the intended meaning. The higher authority, generally a legislature or some other government body, establishes the degree of control that the by-laws may exercise. By-laws may be established by entities such as a business corporation, a neighborhood association, or depending on the jurisdiction, a municipality. In the United States, bylaw is the preferred spelling.