Laws
Planning is a structured process governed by legal principles, statutes, and codes. A planning commission works within the framework of its state's enabling law, for this defines a commission's range of substantive duties and responsibilities, as well as the procedural requirements it must follow.
Any consideration of the planning universe must also recognize the strong influence that federal laws and regulations - and the financial assistance funneled to local governments pursuant to these laws and regulations - have on the local planning process.