Today, many states have some sort of constitutional provision for home rule. Under most home rule provisions, the residents of a local community write and adopt their own charter that serves as a kind of constitution for the city. While home rule charters go far in restoring the historical independence and autonomy of local communities, citizens cannot adopt charters that offend the state constitution or state laws. Furthermore, state courts are called upon to interpret home rule charters and often have fallen back on Dillon's Rule to take a narrow view of local authority. In addition to counties, townships and municipalities, states also create school districts and other special districts.
School districts are a good example of the tension between local and state forces.
The schools were organized, regulated and financed by the local community. As public education became more complicated, and as the state financed a greater share of the cost of education, the state's role in such important matters as curriculum and school personnel expanded. Today there is continuing tension between local and state forces for control of the schools within a community. Special districts, whether concerned with solid waste disposal, mass transportation, fire protection, or other matters, have developed for two reasons. First, because state constitutions limit local indebtedness, special districts are sometimes created to finance large capital projects through the issuance of public bonds.