1 home rule | Definition of home rule

home rule

noun

Definition of home rule

: self-government or limited autonomy in internal affairs by a dependent political unit (such as a territory or municipality)

Examples of home rule in a Sentence

The citizens petitioned for home rule.

Recent Examples on the Web

It was granted home rule in 1979 and is now considered an autonomous area within the kingdom of Denmark. Los Angeles Times, "Q&A: Trump wants to buy Greenland. How much is it worth anyway?," 23 Aug. 2019 Kenilworth voters rejected a referendum measure in 2012 for home rule government. Daniel I. Dorfman, chicagotribune.com, "Glencoe officials once again explore path toward home rule," 1 Aug. 2019 Because Frankfort is not a home rule community, a sales tax increase must be approved by voters. Susan Demar Lafferty, Daily Southtown, "Frankfort may try to increase sales tax," 15 May 2018 The bill would not impact home rule counties that appoint, rather than elect, their county clerk. oregonlive.com, "Lawmakers want to tamp down self-promotion by elections officials," 10 June 2019 Cincinnati argues the law violates home rule rights guaranteed in the Ohio Constitution, according to the complaint filed Thursday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Jackie Borchardt, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati sues state over law barring local gun restrictions," 6 June 2019 For communities such as Orland Park that have home rule sales taxes, the state had levied an administrative fee amounting to 2 percent of collections, but the new state budget shaves that to 1.5 percent. Mike Nolan, Daily Southtown, "New taxes, job cuts possible as Orland Park officials tackle budget gap," 8 June 2018 Tyndall’s life began humbly, in a respectable but impecunious Irish family whose Protestant roots shaped his lifelong opposition to home rule. Peter Pesic, WSJ, "‘The Ascent of John Tyndall’ Review: Science at the Summit," 9 Aug. 2018 State food code says dogs aren’t allowed in a food establishment, but Oak Park has home rule and could amend its local ordinance to allow for dogs, public health director Mike Charley said. Caitlin Mullen, chicagotribune.com, "Oak Park Board of Health recommends allowing Beer Shop patrons to bring their dogs," 23 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'home rule.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of home rule

1858, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for home rule

home rule

noun

English Language Learners Definition of home rule

: government of a place (such as a country or territory) by the people who live there instead of by another country

home rule

noun

Legal Definition of home rule

: self-government or limited autonomy in internal affairs by a dependent political unit (as a territory or municipality) also : the political theory or principle of self-government

More from Merriam-Webster on home rule

Britannica English: Translation of home rule for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about home rule