A city charter could impose them. All other big cities have one
Chicago is one of only two major cities — the other one is Fort Worth, Texas — without any term limits on its mayor or city council.
Other big cities restrict the mayor to two four-year terms, and impose various limits on council members.
Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Diego and Dallas limit the mayor to two four-year terms. New York restricts its mayor and council members to two consecutive four-year terms, but they can run again after a four-year break.
Other cities’ limits on council terms range from two to four years, with differing limits on consecutive re-elections. In Fort Worth, mayoral and council terms are two years.
If Chicago won’t adopt independent redistricting, term limits are necessary to prevent an undue advantage for incumbents. Term limits can be part of a city charter, which Chicago does not have while all the nation’s other biggest cities do. A city charter serves as a city’s own constitution, laying out the rules and functions of the government. Term limits can be in that charter.
Chicago had charters early in its history, but the state’s constitution of 1870 effectively ended the practice of granting charters. There were three unsuccessful attempts to institute a Chicago city charter in the early 1900’s, a time of high dissatisfaction with city government corruption.
Chicago, with a history of political dynasties, crime and corruption, needs accountability for the mayor and city council. Even though the process would be laborious, a city charter enshrining term limits would be a step toward reform.
