Season 1, Episode 2

Ordinance vs. Resolution: Why the Difference Matters

In this episode of Patrick’s Poor Man’s Guide, we slow down on two words that come up constantly in local government — and are almost always misunderstood.

Ordinance.Resolution.

They sound similar.They are not the same.

An ordinance is law.It creates rules, establishes authority, and changes the municipal code.

A resolution expresses intent.It signals direction, support, or recognition — but it does not change the law.

Confusing the two leads to frustration, false expectations, and conversations that talk past one another — especially at board meetings, on commissions, and during public comment.

This episode explains the basic framework in plain language:

What an ordinance is

What a resolution is

Why the difference matters

And how misunderstanding these tools distorts expectations

This episode is about orientation and clarity — not consequences or strategy.

In the extended episode, we’ll talk about how ordinances and resolutions work in real life, where people get frustrated, and why this distinction quietly shapes what actually happens in local government.

This is Patrick’s Poor Man’s Guide — local government, in plain English.

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