There are certain laws that literally allow our city to exist and be governed separate from the state such as the Home Rule City Act and Dillon’s Rule. There are other laws that guide how the city functions such as the Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act and the Detroit City Charter. Finally the Emergency Manager Law determines when the state might implement its control over a city and its leadership. We call these foundational laws because anything we do in the city must take these key policies into account. Become familiar with them as your cornerstone to city governance and oversight.
