Home Rule
The Town of Normal has operated as a home rule unit of local government since July 1, 1971. Home Rule is the name given to a set of laws that give a city or county some freedom in how it makes laws. The purpose of Home Rule is to give a city or county the ability to address problems as they arise without having to get special permission from the state legislature.
In 1970, the State of Illinois added Home Rule to the Constitution stating that any municipality with more that 25,000 residents would automatically have home rule powers. Smaller towns and cities would be allowed home rule authority if approved through a referendum.
According to the Constitution of the State of Illinois "A home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs including, but not limited to, the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare; to license; to tax; and to incur debt."