Lawmakers weigh Chicago voter-guided Chicago charter

(The Center Square) – A proposal being weighed in the Illinois House would allow Chicago to create its own city charter, which the lawmaker behind it said could simplify many of the complexities that have led to fiscal and other governmental issues in the city.

State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, described his legislation, the Municipal Home Rule Charter Act, as a bill that allows the city to create a constitution-style document for the city – which is one of the only major U.S. cities to not have one.

He said it provides a structure that would streamline the city’s government and give voters a say in its creation.

“It does not decide how power should be divided between the mayor and the city council. It does not decide what our budget process should look like. It does not dictate ethics rules, public safety policy, labor policy, education policy, or tax policy,” Buckner said. “The people of Chicago can have a serious conversation about how their city government should be organized and ultimately [the bill] allows them to decide for themselves.”

The city’s governmental structure is currently guided primarily by state laws passed in Springfield and ordinances passed by aldermen in the city, along with unwritten tradition.