First Edition

Model City Charter Revision Project - Eighth Edition

The National Civic League is in the process of developing the 8th edition of the Model City Charter, a publication that has profoundly influenced local government structure since NCL printed the first edition in 1900. To publish the 8th edition, NCL has assembled an advisory committee of experts on local government. The committee met on several occasions in 2001 and 2002, to assess current issues facing local government and to revise the model charter accordingly.

• Schedule of Meetings
• Process Description
• Committee Member Bios
• Participating Organizations

The publication of the 8th edition of the Model City Charter is made possible by the generosity of the Murray and Agnes Seasongood Foundation, the Hallmark Corporate Foundation, the Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Note: The new edition is now available for purchase. To order a copy of the current edition, click here.

Program Updates

Issues for Resolution

June 11-12, 2002 - The Committee is considering the following option memos for the Kansas City charter meeting at the All-America City Awards:

• Appointment of Chief Administrative Officer (Word Document)
• E-Government
• Effect of State Law
• Ethics
• Performance Measurement
• Recall
• Redistricting
• Signature Requirements

March 22, 2002 - The Committee considered the following option memos for the Phoenix charter meeting at the annual conference of the American Society for Public Administration:

• Campaign Finance Reform
• City Attorney
• City Planning and Regional Cooperation
• Initiative and Referendum
• Initiative and Referendum - Signature Requirement
• Initiative and Referendum - Taxation
• Proportional Representation
• Term Limits

December 7, 2001 - The Committee identified the following issues in Meeting #1 that involve the first three articles of the 7th edition. The Committee considered the following option memos arising from the issue list:

• Election of Mayor
• Compensation of Council and Mayor
• At-Large, District, and Hybrid Elections
• Nonpartisan Elections
• Staggered Terms

Meeting Summaries

• Summary of the fourth meeting held June 11-12, 2002 by the Model City Charter Revision Committee
• Summary of the third meeting held March 22, 2002 by the Model City Charter Revision Committee
• Summary of the second meeting held December 7, 2001 by the Model City Charter Revision Committee
• Summary of the conference call held Oct. 2, 2001 by the Model City Charter Revision Committee
• Summary of the first meeting of the Model City Charter Revision Committee

Liaison Organization Panels

• Minutes from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration Panel on the Model Charter Revision

Articles

• “Renewing the Model City Charter: The Making of the Eight Edition” by Christopher T. Gates and Robert Loper. Published in Public Management (PM) the journal of the International City/County Management Association, Washington, D.C.
• Possible Approaches to the Model Charter Revision, by James Svara