BY-LAWS are the private regulations which are usually made by corporate bodies for the control and government of the corporation. They are .binding, unless contrary to the laws of the land, 'or to the charter, or act of incorporation, or, as it has been decided in England, unless they are manifestly unreasonable. Blackstone tells us that the right of making by-laws was allowed by the law of the twelve tables at Rome; and Mr. Stephen, in his Commentaries, states that in the law of England such a right is so much of course, as regards every corporation, that if the charter by which certain persons are incorporated give to a select body, out of their whole number, a power to make by-laws as to certain specified matters, the body at large is nevertheless at liberty to make them with regard to all matters not specified. Every corporation, too, can of course alter or repeal the by-laws which itself has made. By the municipal corporation act, 5 and 6 Will.
IV. c. 76, s. 90, borough councils have power to make by-laws for the government of the borough, and for the prevention and suppression of nuisances; such by-laws, however, not to be of force till the expiration of forty days after the same, or a copy shall have been sent to one of the secretaries of state, during which period her majesty, with the advice of her privy council, may either disallow the by-laws, or a part, or enlarge the time within which they shall not come into force. Railway companies are required to lay before the board of trade, for the approbation of that authority, certified copies of the by-laws and regulations by which the railway is governed, which by-laws may be disal lowed by the board at its pleasure. See CANAL, CARRIER, RAILWAY.