Home rule powers are essential parts of the American governing process, but they vary widely from state to state. This authoritative reference work examines the powers and functions of municipalities and counties that operate under home rule within each state. For example, the ability of a local municipality to raise taxes, annex land, or impose regulations is determined by their home rule powers from the states.

This volume provides a reliable reference work for researchers and students -- a single source that readers can trust for current and accurate information about:
-- The actions that local governments can -- and cannot -- pursue
-- States where power is centralized at the capital and where it is not
-- How home rule varies within each state by governmental function
-- Trends in important issues such as taxes, land annexation, and citizen access.

Home Rule in America was directed by Dale Krane of the department of public administration, University of Nebraska, Omaha; Platon N. Rigos, department of government and international affairs, University of South Florida; and Melvin Hill, the Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia.

The editors organized the book in three parts: an overview of American home rule, including its history; a state-by-state description of home rule authority; and a comparative appendix that allows readers a quick reference source of powers by state.

A scholar or governmental expert was selected in each state to prepare the state descriptions. Each chapter follows the same outline of content that allows easy comparison between states.

In an era of power and responsibilities devolving from the national government to states andlocalities, the use of home rule powers has become increasingly important to the health of American government and federalism. Researchers and interested citizens will benefit from this new comprehensive reference.

In The Georgia State Constitution, the authors offer a detailed description of the creation and development of Georgia's constitution. They explain how political and cultural events, from colonial times, through the Civil War, to the present, have affected Georgia's constitutional law. Accompanying the full text of the constitution is a rich commentary of the constitutional provisions. The authors trace their origins and interpretation by the courts and other governmental bodies. This volume also provides a bibliographical essay which features the most important sources of Georgia's constitutional history and constitutional law. It concludes with a table of cases cited in the history and the constitutional commentary, as well as a subject index. The second edition provides updates to the constitution including all constitutional amendments through the 2016 general election and additional case-law reflecting current thinking on critical legal issues in Georgia. The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States is an important series that reflects a renewed international interest in constitutional history and provides expert insight into each of the 50 state constitutions. Each volume in this innovative series contains a historical overview of the state's constitutional development, a section-by-section analysis of its current constitution, and a comprehensive guide to further research. Under the expert editorship of Professor G. Alan Tarr, Director of the Center on State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University, this series provides essential reference tools for understanding state constitutional law. Books in the series can be purchased individually or as part of a complete set, giving readers unmatched access to these important political documents.