Article IX
Local Government
§1. Organization of local government.
The Legislature shall have plenary powers to organize and classify units of local government, except that any proposed change in county boundaries shall be submitted to the voters of each affected county at an election and be approved by a majority of those voting thereon in each county. No township heretofore organized may be abolished unless the question is submitted to the voters of the township and approved by a majority of those voting thereon in each township.
§2. Home rule.
Any county or city or combinations thereof may provide for the adoption or amendment of a charter. Such charter shall be adopted or amended if approved at an election by a majority of the votes cast thereon. Not less than ten percent of those voting in the last preceding gubernatorial election in the affected jurisdiction may by petition initiate the question of whether to adopt or amend a charter.
A chartered governmental unit may exercise any legislative power or perform any function not denied by its charter, the Constitution or the general laws of the state. The charter may provide for any form of executive, legislative and administrative structure which shall be of superior authority to statute, provided that the legislative body so established be chosen by popular election and that the administrative proceedings be subject to judicial review. Powers and functions of home rule units shall be construed liberally.
§3. Intergovernmental cooperation.
Every local government may exercise, perform or transfer any of its powers or functions, including financing the same, jointly or in cooperation with any other governmental entities, either within or without the state, except as the Legislature shall provide otherwise by law.
§4. Local initiatives to provide for cooperation and organization of local government units.
On or after January 1, 2001, the voters of any unit of local government shall have the right to initiate proposals for cooperation within or between local governmental units, either within or without the state, except as the Legislature shall provide otherwise by law. Such proposals may include combining, eliminating, and joint financing of offices, functions, and governmental units. Such proposals shall be adopted if approved at an election by a majority of the votes cast thereon in each affected unit. A number not less than fifteen percent of those voting in the last preceding gubernatorial election in each affected jurisdiction may by petition initiate the question of whether to adopt the proposal at the next general election.
§§5 to 7. Superseded.
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