The local government landscape

Content for the week of October 20, 2026

Module overview

This module sets the stage for the rest of the course. We will cover the various theoretical perspectives on local governments–their purposes, who they are for, and who controls them. The module covers home rule, the four aspects of local government autonomy, and annexation.

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will:

  • Understand the various theoretical perspectives on local government
  • Describe the the features of home rule in general and in Illinois
  • Discuss the aspects of local government autonomy

Topics

  • Local governments, generally
  • Home rule
  • Patterns of local government spending/employment

Readings

  • Chapter 1, 2, and 5 in Governing the Metropolitan Region: America’s New Frontier (Miller and Cox 2014)
  • Bowman, Ann O’M. “The State-Local Government(s) Conundrum: Power and Design.” (Bowman 2017)
  • Goodman, Christopher B. “Local Government Fragmentation: What Do We Know?” (Goodman 2019)
  • Richardson, Jesse J. “Dillon’s Rule Is from Mars, Home Rule Is from Venus: Local Government Autonomy and the Rules of Statutory Construction.” (Richardson 2011)

Home rule in Illinois

  • Banovetz, James M. “The Status of Illinois Home Rule, Part I: Home Rule Cities and the Voters.” (Banovetz 2002)
  • Banovetz, James M., and Thomas W. Kelty. “The Status of Illinois Home Rule, Part II: Home Rule and Taxes.” (Banovetz and Kelty 2003a)
  • Banovetz, James M., and Thomas W. Kelty. “The Status of Illinois Home Rule, Part III: Do Home Rule Communities Levy More Property Taxes?” (Banovetz and Kelty 2003b)

References

Banovetz, James M. 2002. “The Status of Illinois Home Rule, Part I: Home Rule Cities and the Voters.” Illinois Municipal Review, 53.
Banovetz, James M., and Thomas W. Kelty. 2003a. “The Status of Illinois Home Rule, Part II: Home Rule and Taxes.” Illinois Municipal Review.
———. 2003b. “The Status of Illinois Home Rule, Part III: Do Home Rule Communities Levy More Property Taxes?” Illinois Municipal Review, 55.
Bowman, Ann O’M. 2017. “The State-Local Government(s) Conundrum: Power and Design.” The Journal of Politics 79 (4): 1119–29.
Goodman, Christopher B. 2019. “Local Government Fragmentation: What Do We Know?” State & Local Government Review 51 (2): 134–44.
Miller, David Y., and Raymond Cox. 2014. Governing the Metropolitan Region: America’s New Frontier. New York, NY: Routledge.
Richardson, Jesse J. 2011. “Dillon’s Rule Is from Mars, Home Rule Is from Venus: Local Government Autonomy and the Rules of Statutory Construction.” Publius: The Journal of Federalism 41 (4): 662–85.