Municipal home rule originated in the United States during the Progressive Era of the early twentieth century. It enables voters to adopt a home rule charter that acts as the city's basic governing document over local issues; however, state law continues to prevail over statewide concerns. The goal of municipal home rule is to facilitate local control and minimize state intervention into municipal affairs.
Famous quotes containing the words municipal, home and/or rule:
“No sane local official who has hung up an empty stocking over the municipal fireplace, is going to shoot Santa Claus just before a hard Christmas.”
—Alfred E. Smith (1873–1944)
“Not always can flowers, pearls, poetry, protestations, nor even home in another heart, content the awful soul that dwells in clay.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Resolved to ruin or to rule the state.”
—John Dryden (1631–1700)