A provision in a statute, rule of procedure, or the like, is sald to be dlrectory when it is to be consldered as a mere dlrection or lnstructlon of no obliga-tory force, and lnvolvlng no lnvalidatlng con-sequence for lts disregard,, as opposed to an imperative or mandatory provlsion, whlch must be followed. The general rule is that the prescriptions of a statute relating to the performance of a publlc duty are so far directory that, though neglect of them may be punlshable, yet it does not afTect the validity of the acts done under them, as in the vase of a statute requlrlng an officer to prepare and dellver a document to another officer on or before a certain day. Maxw. Interp. St 330, et seq. And see Pearse v. Morrice, 2 Adol. & El. 94; Nelms v. Vaughan, 84 Va. 696, 5 8. E. 704; State v. Conner, 86 Tex. 133, 23 S. W. 1103; Payne v. Fresco, 4 Kulp (Pa.) 28; Bladen v. Philadelphia, 60 Pa. 466
Source: Black’s Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
