A charter city is a city in which the governing system is defined by the city's own charter document rather than by state, provincial, regional or national laws. In locations where city charters are allowed by law, a city can adopt or modify its organizing charter by a majority vote of its residents. A charter gives a city's residents the flexibility to choose any kind of government structure allowed by law.
For example, in California, cities which have not adopted a charter are organized by state law. Such a city is called a General Law City, which will be managed by a 5-member city council. A city organized under a charter may choose different systems, including the "strong mayor" or "city manager" forms of government.[1][2]
A charter city may have some exemptions from some state or provincial laws, which varies entirely from region to region. As of June 2008, 112 of California's 478 cities are charter cities.[3]
Addis Ababa in Ethiopia is also a chartered city.
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See also
References
- ^ "Charter Cities". League of California Cities. 2007-05-09. http://www.cacities.org/chartercities. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
- ^ "California Government Code, Title 4 Government of Cities, Chapter 2 Classification". State of California. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=34001-35000&file=34100-34102. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
- ^ "Charter Cities". League of California Cities. http://www.cacities.org/index.jsp?zone=locc&previewStory=571. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
Further reading
- Lang, Diane (December, 1991) (PDF). Dillon's Rule...and the Birth of Home Rule. New Mexico Municipal League. http://nmml.org/files/2008/01/dillon.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-26. Discussion of Dillon's rule, charter cities and home rule in New Mexico.
External links
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