# Establishment of Chicago Charter Committee

[Legislation tracker](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/tracker) › [Committees and Rules](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/committees-and-rules) › [36th Ward: Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36)

- Record number: **R2025-0018089**
- Type: Resolution; category: City Council
- Status: In Committee (Referred)
- Sponsor: [Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36) (36th Ward)
- Committee: [Committee on Committees and Rules](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/committee/committees-and-rules)
- Submitted Date: Jun 16, 2025
- Introduction Date: Jun 18, 2025
- Official record: [Office of the City Clerk](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=50AC4731-F74A-F011-8779-001DD80DE42A)

## Impact report

> Written by AI from [the official document](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/0d763c71-b03c-4453-92ac-b4aae3490fc1.pdf). AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This resolution would create a special City Council committee, the Chicago Charter Committee, to study whether Chicago should have a city charter and report back by April 1, 2027.

**Who it affects**

- **City Council members**: The chairs of each standing committee, the President Pro Tempore, and the Assistant President Pro Tempore would serve on the new committee, led by Alderman Michelle A. Harris.
- **Chicago voters**: The committee's report could include a draft resolution asking voters in a referendum whether the City should establish a charter.
- **Community, labor, business, faith-based, and non-profit organizations**: The committee would be required to ask these groups for their input on a potential city charter.
- **Members of the general public**: Residents would be among the stakeholders the committee must ask for input.
- **City officials, employees, departments, and agencies**: They would have a duty to cooperate with the committee and provide information, records, and data it requests.
- **Legislative Reference Bureau, Council Office of Financial Analysis, and Department of Law**: These offices would provide internal support to committee members when asked.

**What changes**

- A new Chicago Charter Committee would be formed within the City Council.
- The committee would meet at least every three months to study city government structure, checks and balances, budgeting, contracting, transparency, and the City's relationship with the public.
- The public and many community groups would be asked to share input on a possible city charter.
- City departments would have to share records and information with committee members.
- A report with findings and recommendations, possibly including a draft referendum question, would be due to the City Council by April 1, 2027.

**Money**

- The resolution states it does not provide for spending or setting aside any City funds.

**Where**: 36th Ward

## Timeline

- Jun 18, 2025: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.

## Documents

- [Charter Committee Resolution.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/0d763c71-b03c-4453-92ac-b4aae3490fc1.pdf) (Legislation)

## Related legislation

**More from Gilbert Villegas**

- [Tribute to late Michael Keller Ditka](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2026-0029456-tribute-late-michael-keller-ditka) (R2026-0029456, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Amendment of Municipal Code Section 2-44-055 establishing scoring criteria for 9% tax credits](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0029453-scoring-criteria-9-tax-credits) (O2026-0029453, introduced Oct 14, 2026, Referred)
- [Exemption from physical barrier requirement for commercial driveway alley access for Best West Auto Repair, Inc.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/O2026-0027919-exemption-physical-barrier-requirement-commercial-driveway) (O2026-0027919, introduced Sep 23, 2026, Passed)

**More on City Council**

- [Amendment of resolution identifying Chair, Vice-Chair and members of standing committees of the City Council of the City of Chicago for…](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2025-0019840-resolution-identifying-chair-vice-chair-members) (R2025-0019840, introduced Sep 25, 2025, Adopted)
- [Amendment of chairmen and members of City Council standing committees for Years 2023-2027](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2024-0012349-chairmen-members-city-council-standing-committees) (R2024-0012349, introduced Sep 18, 2024, Adopted)
- [Establishment of permanent Subcommittee of Revenue under Committee on Finance and appointment of Chair, Vice-Chair and members](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2023-0004907-establishment-permanent-subcommittee-revenue-committee) (R2023-0004907, introduced Oct 4, 2023, Adopted)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/R2025-0018089-establishment-chicago-charter-committee · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt