Charter, Municipal Code, ordinances, council bills, resolutions—their descriptions, relationships, differences, and specific content.
Charter
The document that establishes Denver as an incorporated political entity and provides for fundamental authorities, powers, offices, agencies, and direction in its operation. This is similar to the relationships between the State of Colorado and the United States of America and their respective constitutions. That Denver is governed by a mayor and council, that they are elected, and when and how they are elected, for example, are established by the Charter. The Charter can be amended only by approval of Denver electors.
Council Bills
Matters pertaining to city government and operation submitted to City Council for consideration for passage. These include budgetary appropriations, contracts, zoning classifications, Municipal Code amendments, street vacations, and others. See City Council Rules of Procedure.
Ordinances
Passed council bills that become orders of Council. Each Monday at the weekly City Council meeting (Tuesday in case of Monday municipal holiday) Council introduces a new set of council bills and passes a set of council bills introduced previously (each bill has been introduced previously but not all necessarily in the immediately preceding week). The passed bills then become the latest set of ordinances, subject to mayoral veto power. See City Council Rules of Procedure.
The term "ordinances" widely is used to refer to city laws. Some contexts do support this sense and usage of the term; here, however, we distinguish Municipal Code from ordinances generally. It is the Municipal Code that organizes, codifies, and defines Denver law. Note that many ordinances, i.e., passed council bills, do not pertain to the Municipal Code at all.
Municipal Code
Revised Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver, 1982 Compilation as amended (RMC), also variously referenced as Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC) or simply the Code, is the main and definitive codification of law the purpose of which is to regulate activities of the City and County of Denver and its citizens. It can be amended by ordinance, i.e., by Council.
Resolutions
Acts of City Council similar to ordinances, but subject to a lesser level of formalized procedure and limited to addressing only certain matters. Resolutions do not require mayoral approval. See City Council Rules of Procedure.