What does Dillon's Rule emphasize regarding the powers of municipal corporations?

Dillon's Rule articulates the principle that municipal corporations operate under the authority granted to them by the state government. This means that local governments do not possess inherent powers but instead derive their powers from the state. Therefore, the emphasis is on state supremacy over local governments, highlighting that any powers exercised by a municipality must be explicitly granted by the state legislature or necessarily implied by the state legislation.

Under Dillon's Rule, if there is any doubt about the existence of a power a local government wishes to exercise, it is typically assumed that the local government does not have that power unless it can be demonstrated that it has been granted by the state. This framework is significant because it governs the relationship between state and local governance, ensuring that local entities cannot independently enact laws or exercise powers beyond what the state permits.

The other options reflect varying degrees of autonomy or power balance that are not consistent with the core tenets of Dillon's Rule. Local governments do not enjoy absolute autonomy, nor do they operate independently of state law. The structure outlined by Dillon's Rule reinforces a hierarchical relationship where state law is paramount.