Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing political or electoral districts with the intention of enabling the party charged with redistricting to remain in power. This practice often results in districts with bizarre shapes.
Grandfather clause refers to a section of a law, regulation, or other legal document that limits how changes will be applied to legal relations and activities existing prior to the change. When laws and regulations go through major changes, they can critically harm businesses or individuals who relied on the prior system. So, legislators, regulators, and businesses often negotiate grandfather clauses to make the changes apply only to new activity.
Grandfathered in refers to conduct that receives the benefit of a grandfather clause, allowing this conduct to receive the treatment of prior laws or rules. After legal changes, most conduct will have to abide by the new rules, but many who relied on the old rules will be “grandfathered in,” allowing them to avoid the changed laws or rules.
Home rule is a provision of the state constitution or similar legislation granting a local municipality a certain amount of autonomy to allocate powers between the state and the local government. If it is accepted by the local government, then it constitutes self-government.
Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) are the governing body of many common interest communities (CIC), such as subdivisions, who manage the common areas and interests of the community. When a person buys property in a CIC, there is a legal servitude on the property that binds the owner of the property to follow the covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that govern all the property in the community.
Industrial development is the planning, zoning, construction, etc., of facilities intended for industrial use, such as manufacturing goods or processing raw materials.
Industrial zoning is a land-use that refers to areas of land that only have government permission (or zoning) to be used for acts related to industrial development.
“Land use” is a term that is used to describe the different purposes land may be used for. This includes both economic and cultural uses of land. Common types of land use include:
Law enforcement refers to the government agencies and individuals designated to enforce laws and maintain public order and safety. 34 USC § 12291(a)(23)
Legislature is a political body that is responsible for creating and amending laws through legislation.
