Home rule is the right to self govern. In the 1970s, South Carolina amended the 1895 state constitution to delineate the powers of local governments. Even with the enactment of the Home Rule Act of 1975, debates about the scope of home rule continue. This 2011 publication updates the 2004 version because a number of state actions have changed local governments’ home rule authority.

Download 'Local Government and Home Rule in SC: A Citizen's Guide'