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the problem we faced with the broad grant of home rule
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powers. In our original sample language, we proposed
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classification as a possible way of leaving the State
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Legislature some element of control over the individual
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subdivisions granted home rule powers. Without classifi-
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cation, we face the situation where if we have compulsory
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home rule for 24 units of government, the State Legisla-
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ture has to pass general legislation for all 24. I felt,
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and I think most of us felt, that this was too great a
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limitation on the Legislature.
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I prepared this report simply because as I was
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making this study, it occurred to me we have several
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strengths in our local government situation as it now
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exists in Maryland. One strength is that we don't have
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classification whatsoever. Our constitution provides
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for it, but the State has never made use of it.
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A second thing that occurred to me is that our
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system, our present relationship between the State and
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local governments, does provide for a maximum amount of
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flexibility. The way our constitution now reads, a unit
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may either back a home rule county, it may stay as an
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