October 13, 2026
A city charter is a municipal constitution that that establishes a clear, enforceable framework for how city government is structured, how authority and responsibilities are assigned to elected and appointed officials, and how consequential decisions are made. Chicago is the only major city in the U.S. that does not have a city charter. This means that the City of Chicago government operates through a patchwork of state statutes, local ordinances, and customary rules and procedures without an overarching, comprehensive framework to ensure that laws and ordinances are enforced, and that decisions that have bearing on future Chicagoans are made with appropriate accountability and oversight.
The Civic Federation is co-leading an initiative to establish a city charter for Chicago, along with A More Just Chicago. Enabling legislation that would create a process and legal pathway for Chicago to draft a city charter has been filed in the Illinois General Assembly through House Bill 5282, sponsored by Rep. Kam Buckner and Sen. Celina Villanueva. Below we provide resources about this legislation, about what a charter is and what it could do for the city, and ways to get involved.
HB5282
Linked below are helpful materials about House Bill 5282 including amended legislation language, testimony from subject matter hearings, and legislative design principles.
Summary of HB 5282 - Municipal Home Rule Charter Act
President Joe Ferguson's Illinois Executive Committee Testimony - 10/13
Illinois House Executive Committee City Charter Subject Matter Hearing Full Video - 10/13
City Charter Information
City Charter Legislative Timeline
Media Coverage
FOX 32 - "Could Chicago get a city charter? Illinois lawmakers consider new proposal"
Center Square - "Lawmakers weigh Chicago voter-guided Chicago charter"
WAND News - "Illinois bill could help Chicago become a charter city"
Hoodline - "Chicago Voters Could Finally Get a City Charter Under New Illinois Bill"
Civic Federation City Charter Research
The links below include previous research and reporting from the Civic Federation on city charter:
Improving Chicago’s Budget Process: The Case for a City Charter
What is a City Charter, and How Could Having One Help Chicago?