City Charter
A city's foundational governing document — similar to a constitution — that establishes the form of government, powers, organizational structure, and key procedures.
How It Works
Home rule charters give cities broad authority to govern themselves, while general law cities operate under powers granted by the state legislature. Charter amendments typically require voter approval. The charter defines whether a city uses council-manager or mayor-council government, how council members are elected (by district or at-large), term limits, budget procedures, and the process for annexation or boundary changes.
Related Terms
- Council-Manager Government — A form of city government where an elected city council sets policy and a hired professional city manager runs day-to-day operations.
- Mayor-Council Government — A form of city government where an independently elected mayor serves as chief executive (like a governor or president) and an elected council serves as the legislative body.
- Home Rule — The authority granted by a state to its cities to govern themselves and pass local laws without needing specific state legislative approval for each action.
About This Definition
This definition is part of the CitySpend Municipal Finance Glossary — 59 terms explaining how city governments fund and manage public services. All definitions are written in plain language for taxpayers, journalists, students, and municipal bond investors.