Lawmakers weigh Chicago voter-guided Chicago charter
[October 14, 2026]
By Sean Reed | The Center Square
(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.
Buckner’s bill was brought back up for the first time publicly since
April during an out-of-session hearing by the House Executive Committee
on Tuesday.
Joe Ferguson, president of the non-partisan Civic Federation, said that
the retrospectively unpopular fiscal decisions could have been avoided
by the government, and the charter could create more responsibility
among the government.
“What does it mean for Chicago to have no charter? It means that there
is no coherent, enforceable structure to the way government works here.
Inadequate transparency, fractionalist politics and almost constant
fiscal crises are just some of the issues that haunt Chicago,” Ferguson
said.
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Illinois State Rep. Kam Bucker, D-Chicago. Photo: Greg Bishop / The
center Square
He noted the city’s sale of its parking meters for $1.15 billion in
2008 could’ve been more thoroughly scrutinized or rejected if the
city had a charter creating a stronger system of independent fiscal
analysis for the council.
Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, asked what the point of the process is
when there are already guiding laws and ordinances in the books.
Ferguson explained a charter would be easier to enforce.
“State law, municipal ordinance, customary practice absolutely is
the case. But there is one broad distinction, and then I’ll go into
the particulars, they’re unenforceable,” Ferguson said. “The mayor
is the equivalent of the president and the speaker of the house. But
customary practice and actual rules and the law have the mayor
presiding over the council.”
He explained that many of the roles providing oversight to
committees of the council are selected directly by the mayor.
A charter, under the proposal, would be written by 10 charter
commissioners who would be chosen by Chicago voters in a nonpartisan
election. The 10 members would select another member to come in and
serve as the chair – a total of 11 members.
Buckner said the group wouldn’t have final say over the charter, as
it would again be left up to voters.
“Any proposed charter would go before Chicago voters at the November
2030 general election and would take effect only if a majority of
voters approve it,” Buckner said.
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