* WAND…

State lawmakers are discussing a plan to create a charter for the city of Chicago. Advocates stress Chicago is the only major US city without a constitutional document for transparent decision-making and accountability standards.

Lawmakers and advocates told the Illinois House Executive Committee Tuesday that creating a charter commission and adopting a municipal charter will allow Chicagoans to provide the principles and organization of government that reflect their values.

“It establishes the basic rules of the road,” said Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “The structure of the government, the responsibilities of institutions, the procedures for making major decisions, and the mechanisms for accountability.”

Buckner said ten charter commissioners would be elected by Chicago voters during a nonpartisan election. The ten members would then select an eleventh member to serve as their chair. His bill states the commission could choose the areas they intend to study, create a process for public participation, and hold regular public meetings.

Chicago voters would still be able to choose if they want a city charter during the November 2030 election.

This was a subject matter hearing. The bill hasn’t had a committee vote yet.

* Fox Chicago…

Advocates say a city charter could address term limits, access to financial records, ward maps, and executive power over city council.

“This is not Springfield telling Chicago this is the type of government you need to have,” said Buckner. “What this does is give Chicagoans an opportunity to have a voice in the process.”

Buckner says it’s not about any particular mayor or city council body. Any charter would be taken to votes to ultimately approve.

Buckner expects the bill to be taken up in the General Assembly in January.

* Center Square…

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. […]

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.”

* Related…

10am - City charter advocates in House Exec hearing opine Chicago City government doesn’t really have checks and balances in City Law Dept leadership.

2pm - City Council members have put a brick on confirmation of Mayor’s new Law Dept leader.

Wild times.

— Chicago Bars (@chicagobars) October 13, 2026

Thoughts?