Dictionary of Law
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home rule :: legal definition


Home rule - n. the power of a local city or county to set up its own system of governing and local ordinances without receiving a charter from the state which comes with certain requirements and limitations. The concept has become popular with so-called libertarians, survivalists and others who would like to divorce local government from as much state regulation as possible. However, few cities and counties have chosen this route. For example, in California, there is one small county (Colusa) out of the 58 which has chosen "home rule." This does not mean they will not take state funds for local improvements.


Related Law Terms

acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
administrative law :: n. the procedures created by administrative agenci ... judge Administrative Procedure Act
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
advisory opinion :: n. an opinion stated by a judge or a court upon th ... o: actual controversy friendly suit
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
claim against a governmental agency :: n. any time one believes he/she has a right to pay ... orter than other types of lawsuits.
consumer protection laws :: n. almost all states and the federal government ha ... rranty product liability securities
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
District Attorney (D.A.) :: n. an elected official of a county or a designated ... dent and serve at his/her pleasure.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
felony :: n. 1) a crime sufficiently serious to be punishabl ... ion. See also: misdemeanor sentence
forum non conveniens :: (for-uhm nahn cahn-vee-nee-ehns) n. Latin for a fo ... most convenient location for trial.
Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing
grandfather clause :: n. 1) a clause in a statute or zoning ordinance (p ... Such laws are now unconstitutional.
interstate commerce :: n. commercial trade, business, movement of goods o ... and the I.C.C. may soon be history.
inverse condemnation :: n. the taking of property by a government agency w ... e also: condemnation eminent domain
joint powers agreement :: n. a contract between a city, a county and/or a sp ... istrict or other government entity.
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
long-arm statute :: n. law which gives a local state court jurisdictio ... rt jurisdiction over the defendant.
mandamus :: (man-dame-us) n. Latin for "we order," a writ (mor ... mandamus. See also: writ of mandate
person :: n. 1) a human being. 2) a corporation treated as h ... amages. See also: corporation party
privileges and immunities :: n. the fundamental rights that people enjoy in fre ... t impinge on constitutional rights.
property :: n. anything that is owned by a person or entity. P ... rty real property separate property
public defender :: n. an elected or appointed public official (usuall ... to convicted indigents for appeals.
sheriff :: n. the top law enforcement officer for a county, u ... ." See also: bailiff sheriff's sale
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - H

habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
habitable :: adj. referring to a residence that is safe and can ... rent. See also: landlord and tenant
habitual criminal :: n. under the statutes of many states, a person who ... r any further criminal convictions.
half blood :: 1) adj. sharing one parent only. 2) n. a half brot ... icularly Native American and white.
harass :: (either harris or huh-rass) v. systematic and/or c ... also: harassment sexual harassment
harassment :: (either harris-meant or huh-rass-meant) n. the act ... See also: harass sexual harassment
harmless error :: n. an error by a judge in the conduct of a trial w ... ar to be harmless." See also: error
head of household :: n. 1) in federal income tax law, the person filing ... n or daughter. 3) "head of family."
headnote :: n. the summary of the key legal points determined ... not the court's. See also: reports
hearing :: n. any proceeding before a judge or other magistra ... e hearing preliminary hearing trial
hearsay :: n. 1) second-hand evidence in which the witness is ... t or gossip. See also: hearsay rule
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
heat of passion :: n. in a criminal case, when the accused was in an ... oing. See also: manslaughter murder
heir :: n. one who acquires property upon the death of ano ... y pretermitted heir succession will
heir apparent :: n. the person who is expected to receive a share o ... isinherited by will. See also: heir
heiress :: n. feminine heir, often used to denote a woman who ... in the "department store heiress."
heirs of the body :: n. descendants of one's bloodline, such as childre ... nal owner. See also: heir reversion
held :: v. decided or ruled, as "the court held that the c ... See also: decision judgment ruling
hereditament :: n. any kind of property which can be inherited. Th ... till found in some wills and deeds.
hidden asset :: n. an item of value which does not show on the boo ... ets on a profit and loss statement.