Definition

1. Noun:
   • Self-government in local matters by a city or county that is part of a national government: "Home rule" refers to the power or authority granted to a local government (like a city, county, or region) to manage its own affairs, make its own laws, and govern itself on local issues, while still being part of a larger national or state government.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The city adopted a home rule charter, allowing it to set its own property tax rates.
  • Advocates argued that home rule would give the county more control over zoning and development.
  • The state legislature granted home rule to the capital district.

Advanced Usage

• "to achieve/home rule": to obtain or be granted the status of self-government.
  • The territory fought for decades to achieve home rule.
• "under home rule": operating with the authority of self-government.
  • Under home rule, the municipality can pass ordinances without state approval on certain matters.

Variants and Related Words

• Home-rule (adjective, often hyphenated): Pertaining to or advocating for home rule.
  • The home-rule movement gained significant support.
• Devolution (noun): The statutory delegation of powers from a central government to a regional government. (This is a broader, related concept often used in political science.)

Synonyms

• Self-government: Government of a country or region by its own people.
• Autonomy: The right or condition of self-government.
• Municipal sovereignty: The supreme authority of a city or town over its own affairs. (A more formal, specific synonym.)

Related Phrases

• "Charter of home rule": The formal document or law that establishes a local government's self-governing authority.
  • The new charter of home rule expanded the city's powers significantly.
• "Home rule authority": The specific powers granted to a local government under home rule.
  • The city exercised its home rule authority to ban single-use plastics.

Related Concepts

• Federalism: A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces). Home rule is a principle that operates within such systems, delegating power to an even more local level.
• Centralization vs. Decentralization: Home rule is a form of political decentralization, transferring decision-making power closer to the citizens affected by those decisions.

Noun

1. self-government in local matters by a city or county that is part of a national government