Home rule
Definition
Home rule is authority, usually granted by a state constitution or statute, that lets a city or county govern itself broadly, passing ordinances and managing its own affairs without asking the state legislature for permission on every matter.
Why it matters
Home rule expands what local voters can actually change through city elections. Without it, even a unanimous city council may be powerless to act on zoning, wages, or taxation unless the state has explicitly authorized it, shifting real decision-making power to the state capitol.
Seen in the wild
Illinois' constitution automatically grants home rule to any municipality over 25,000 residents, letting cities like Chicago set their own taxes and regulations, while smaller Illinois towns without that status must seek specific state authorization for similar actions, a split documented in the Illinois Municipal League's home rule guidance.1