Please explain the (Pennsylvania) concept of "home rule" for municipalities (vanity)

self | self

[calvin sun]

A number of cities and townships in Pennsylvania have something called "home rule." Once I spoke to someone familiar with the concept, who tried to explain it to me. But I still am unclear. I DO remember that he said the relationship between the Commonwealth of PA and the municipalities is DIFFERENT from that between the Federal government and the states. Under the ?10th? Amendment responsibilities not explicitly given the federal govenment are reserved for the states (?right?). But under Commonwealth law, the state has to explicitly grant privileges to the municipality. Everything not granted to the municipality is the prerogative of the state. That is, unless the municipality adopts home rule (?)

What does a municipality gain by adopting home rule, and what are the implications? Why would a municipality adopt or refuse to adopt home rule? Thanks.

[annyokie]

ping!

[martin_fierro]

huhwha? <|:)~

[jocon307]

I can't explain it, but they always talk about "home rule" and "local control" in NJ too. It is often referred to somewhat disparagingly, but that attitude seems to be based on resentment that it is not easier to tax the suburbs to fund the ghetto.

I grew up in NYC, we had the 5 boros, one mayor, there is no county level of gov't there, although each boro is a county. Since coming to NJ I've found it all a bit confusing, even tho' I actually live in a city here.

And btw, for anyone who come to do any 'splaining, what's the difference between a plain old state and a commonwealth?

[AdamSelene235]

Here in Colorado home rule means that cities have absolute authority over their juridiction. One Denver judge has ruled that city law supercedes both the State and Federal Constitution on the issue of gun control.

I seriously doubt this would hold up in higher courts but the higher courts all denied cert so its a moot point.

[annyokie]

Cute poochey! I just pinged yunz and Willie since I can't 'splain this fellas question, anat.

[deport]

http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:Bpn3Hbn1JiQJ:www.inventpa.com/docs/Document/application/pdf/a882c48f-b26e-4cc0-9b3d-0681c5662df4/home-rule.pdf+Pennsylvania+home+rule&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Pennsylvania+home+rule

[RightWhale]

the difference between a plain old state and a commonwealth?

There are 46 states and 4 commonwealths. What are they? Pennsylvania, Virginia, Massachussets, and ???

[jocon307]

Virginia, no?

[martin_fierro]

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Allegheny County Home Rule Charter Summary

[RightWhale]

Already said Virginia.

[jocon307]

Sorry, you had that one. wait, wait, don't tell me, Kenntucky, yes?

[RightWhale]

Kentucky it is, once part of Virginia.

[Michael121]

Yes

[jocon307]

"Kentucky ...once part of Virginia."

I didn't know that either. Virginia just keeps shrinking eh?

Actually thinking of sending the kid to college there, and then moving to VA, just to really irritate her! And get the in-state rate, too. Getting really sick of NJ and Bloomberg is single-handedly ruining NY, so we're open to ideas.

But I still don't know what the difference is, I've never been able to find out, actually. I remember asking my dad years ago, and he was usually a font of trivial and non-trivial knowledge, and he just said "not much, in practice".

[RightWhale]

I believe 'commonwealth' is a holdover from Britishisms, the idea of gentlemen farmers forming a co-op for their mutual benefit, while 'state' is more from the classical ideas of government. More a difference in attitude and sense of origin than in practice.

[Between the Lines]

This site explains it fairly well:

http://www.horsham.org/information/homerulepa.asp

[Between the Lines]

The Northern Marianas Islands in the Pacific and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean are also commonwealths.

[RightWhale]

Australia, too.

[annyokie]

Thanks, ya yunzer! ; )