The proposed 2024 Charles County Charter includes eight articles. Below is a summary of each article. These summaries are not meant to be all inclusive of every section of the Charter. Each summary includes a link to the relevant article of the Charter, and we encourage you to read the entire article.

Preamble

The introduction of the 2024 Charles County Charter explains the document's purpose: to establish separate legislative and executive branches in Charles County by adopting a new charter system of governance. It also describes why Charles County is pursuing this change.

Article One - General Provisions

The first part of the 2024 Charles County Charter explains the basic rules under the new form of government and defines standard terms, positions, and offices mentioned throughout the document.

Article Two - County Council

This article explains the Charles County Council. It covers how Council members are elected, what qualifications they need, how long they serve, and their roles, compensation, powers, and responsibilities. It also discusses how to fill vacancies, Council management, support, and how a redistricting process may occur if the districts change.

Article Three - Inspector General

This article establishes the role of the Inspector General, a new position created by the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter. It includes basic details about the job, such as its goals, how the Inspector General is appointed, how long they can serve, what qualifications they need, and removal from office. It also covers the Inspector General's responsibilities with budgets, staff, legal advice, planning, access to information, and more.

Article Four - Legislative Process

This article explains how the legislative branch of the Charles County Government would function under the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter. It covers when and how the County Council will hold legislative sessions and the procedures they will follow. It also details the law-making process, including the Executive's power to veto bills, what happens if bills fail, how laws are enacted, and when they take effect.

Article Five - Executive

This article details how the executive branch of the Charles County Government would work under the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter, including the position’s powers and duties, how the County Executive is elected, term limits, qualifications, pay, and more. This article also defines the roles of the Chief Administrative Officer and County Attorney.

Article Six - Budget and Finance

This article reviews the budget and financial process under the Charles County Charter Government. It covers key players, the budget approval process, and financial management. It also includes details about the Director of Finance position, budget preparation, public budget hearings by the Council, and more information regarding the financial management of the Charles County Government.

Article Seven - Miscellaneous Provisions

This article explains how the Charter can be modified after approval, including making amendments, conducting reviews, and terminating the document. It also details the roles and responsibilities of the County Ethics Commission, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Appeals under the Charter.

Article Eight - Transitional Provisions

This article describes how Charles County would transition from code home rule to Charter. It includes information about the timeline for the transition to become effective following an approval vote in the November 2024 election, the establishment of the Transition Commission, when the first election for County Council and County Executive will take place, impacts on existing laws, and other considerations for the transition.

During the March 21, 2023, Board of Charles County Commissioners meeting, the Commissioners established a Charter Board to draft a charter. The Commissioners voted to approve the Charter Board. The Charter drafted by the Charter Board is required by law to be submitted to the voters of the county for their approval or opposition.

The primary purpose of the proposed charter form of government is to approve a set of laws known as a Charter that will form the basis of the county system of government. The Charter can only be approved, amended, or repealed by a vote of the people of the county. The proposed Charter provides for an elected executive, which is not an option under any other form of government.

In June 2023, the Charles County Charter Board convened to draft a Charter proposing a new executive and legislative structure for the county government.

Over the past year, the Charter Board has consulted with current and former county executives, legislative directors with the Maryland Association of Counties, fire chiefs, law enforcement officials, and other community members and experts to craft a Charter that defines how the county would function under this proposed government structure.

Pursuant to the presentation of the Charter by the Charter Board to the County Commissioners as of July 23, 2024, the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter document has been officially drafted and will not receive any additional revisions before the 2024 General Election.

The official draft of the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter is available online, here.

At this stage, voters are encouraged to review the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter and determine whether to support this new form of government or retain the county’s current structure, code home rule.

Important dates for the General Election:

• Online voter registration deadline: October 15, 2024
• Early voting: Available Thursday, October 24 through Thursday, October 31, 2024, (including Saturday and Sunday) from 7 AM to 8 PM
• Deadline to Request a Mail-in ballot or Fax an Absentee Ballot: October 29, 2024, by 11:59 PM
• In-person voting deadline: November 5, 2024, by 8 PM

If approved by voters, certain provisions of the charter government would be implemented starting January 1, 2025, to facilitate the initial election of officials on November 3, 2026. These changes would affect election rules, terms of office, and County Council member qualifications. In addition, the Charter requires the appointment of a Transition Commission by July 31, 2025, for the specific purpose of evaluating the structure, performance, and effectiveness of the Department of Planning and Growth Management and preparing recommendations to be considered by the County Executive and County Council once elected.

Until the new positions are elected, the code home rule government would remain operational.

The initial election for the County Executive and County Council members is scheduled for November 3, 2026. The charter government would become fully operative at noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, marking the first day in office for the newly elected County Executive and County Council.

All laws enacted by the County Commissioners under code home rule will remain in effect under the charter government unless repealed or amended by the newly elected officials.

For more details on the transition, refer to Article Eight of the Charter.

If the charter form of government does not pass in the General Election, Charles County’s executive and legislative government will continue to operate under the code home rule, and no change will occur.

A charter form of government establishes a document known as “the Charter,” which defines the basic structure and organization of the county government, including the duties, powers, rules, and procedures of its leadership and departments. Using this “rulebook,” the county outlines how it would operate and sets laws for specific local issues.

Under the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter, the Charles County Government would operate with a legislative branch (the County Council) and an executive branch (the County Executive). 

The County Council would be responsible for making the laws that govern Charles County and representing the interests of its citizens. Each County Council member would be assigned to a district and speak on behalf of its residents within the council, with one Council member being the at-large member who represents the entire county.

Council members would introduce legislation and vote on its approval/denial as a group. This includes introducing legislation on behalf of the County Executive, Charles County citizens, and other county departments.

Topic: Government Structure

Code Home Rule

Five commissioners, each elected at-large but representing a specific district within Charles County act as the legislative and executive branches of government. Commissioners are permitted to hold other employment while serving.

* effective November 2026, unless charter passes in November 2024, the district commissioners will be voted by a plurality of voters in their district, and no longer at-large.

Charter Government

An elected County Executive is the top authority that oversees and executes county laws. The County Executive is prohibited from having other full-time employment. See Article Five for more information.

Four Council members are elected by district, and one County Council member is voted on at-large by the entire county. See Article Two, section 204 (b) and (c).

Council members are permitted to hold other full-time employment while serving. See Article Two for more information.

Topic: Local Laws

Code Home Rule

Commissioners can enact, amend, or repeal local laws through an internal voting process.

Charter Government

The County Council can enact, amend, or repeal local laws through an internal voting process. The County Executive and the Council members can propose new laws, which the Council then votes on. The County Executive may veto new laws adopted by the Council, and the Council may override the veto with a supermajority vote.

Topic: Term Limits

Code Home Rule

Commissioners do not have term limits, but may enact them legislatively should a majority of the Commissioners approve.

Charter Government

Council members may serve multiple terms, but cannot serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. The County Executive shall serve no more than two four-year terms, whether served consecutively or apart.

Topic: Town Halls and Public Comment

Code Home Rule

Under code home rule, County Commissioners can hold Town Hall meetings, but they are not a mandatory requirement. Commissioner meetings currently have public comments during the first and last meetings of the month.

Charter Government

Under the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter, public Town Halls are mandatory for County Council members. See Article Four, section 412 for more information.

Every County Council meeting permits public comment.

Learn more about the Charter’s proposed legislative process in Article Four of the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter.

2024 Charles County Charter Organizational Chart

(Click Image to Enlarge)

The proposed 2024 Charles County Charter includes new positions to establish the executive branch of local government. Click below for information on the different roles, their responsibilities, and more.

County Executive: The County Executive is the chief executive officer of Charles County. This role takes on executive, administrative, and representational functions for the government.

See additional FAQs for more details or read Article Five of the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter. Click here for fiscal details regarding the County Executive position.

Executive Support Staff: Charles County's executive support staff handle a range of responsibilities to assist the County Executive in managing the county government. Positions include Chief Administrative Officer; Deputy Chief Administrative Officer; Public Information Officer, Special Assistant to the County Executive, County Attorneys, and other support staff.

Click here for financial information regarding the executive support staff. 

Inspector General: The Inspector General's role is to oversee internal audits and investigations to ensure that Charles County is complying with legal, ethical, and fiscal guidelines. This position also reviews the effectiveness of programs and operations and detects/prevents fraud, waste, and abuse within the Charles County Government.

See Article Three of the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter for more information and click here for fiscal details regarding the Inspector General position.

Deputy Inspector General/Auditor: This role supports the Inspector General to ensure that the Charles County Government complies with laws, regulations, and policies. This can include reporting, recommending policy improvements, and supporting investigations.

Click here for fiscal details regarding the Deputy Inspector General position.

County Attorney: Under the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter, the County Attorney would support the Inspector General’s office and serve as the county’s chief legal advisor. This would include representing Charles County in legal matters, assisting in legislation review, reviewing contract agreements, and more.

See Article Five for more information on this position. Click here for fiscal details regarding the County Attorney.

County Council Members: The County Council positions outlined in the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter are not new roles, but rather a replacement for the Board of County Commissioners that would be enacted if the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter is approved by the residents of Charles County on November 5th.

The Council is comprised of five members who act as a legislative body for Charles County. The members are responsible for making the laws that govern Charles County and representing the interests of its citizens. 

See Article Two for more information on the County Council. Click here for fiscal details regarding the County Council members.

Additional Support Staff: Support positions would be added under the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter to support county programs and data management for budget analysis.

Click for details on the support staff positions within the Inspector General’s office and in the County Council.

The County Executive has three primary roles in a charter government:

1. Serve as the executive branch of the county government.
2. Facilitate and coordinate the day-to-day administrative functions of the county’s many departments and budget.
3. Represent the county when working with outside public agencies, other government agencies, and within the business community.

Executive Office Functions

County Executives can sign bills passed by the County Council and veto legislation, with some restrictions. See Article Four, Section 406 of the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter for more information. 

Administrative Functions

This role includes maintaining the county's fiscal health, appointing committees and their members, and ensuring the efficacy of all county departments through policy, goals, and objectives.

Representing Charles County

As a goodwill ambassador and government leader for the county, the County Executive would represent Charles County in meetings with other government and public agencies, and within the business community. 

Voters will continue to elect the same number of representatives to the Maryland General Assembly and United States Congress, regardless of whether the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter is adopted.

Regardless of the government structure, essential services such as waste disposal, utility operations, public transportation, and parks will continue without interruption. These important functions will remain operational and effective, even if the county changes its form of government.

The education system in Charles County is determined by the Board of Education and the State of Maryland. A change in the form of local government will not impact the operation of Charles County Public Schools.

Charles County has created helpful fiscal notes to illustrate the financial considerations of transitioning to a charter government. Click below to review the documents. For additional budget and finance details, including performance-based metrics and budgeting, see Article Six of the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter.

• Executive Office Fiscal Note
• Inspector General Fiscal Note
• County Council Fiscal Note 

The proposed 2024 Charles County Charter must be voted on in November and will either be accepted or rejected in its entirety. There is no provision for adopting only parts of the Charter to integrate into the existing code home rule structure of government.

As of 2023, Maryland Counties operate under Code Home Rule, Charter Government, or Commissioner forms.

Code Home Rule

Allegany County, Caroline County, Charles County, Kent County, Queen Anne’s County, and Worchester County.

Charter

Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Cecil County, Dorchester County, Frederick County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Talbot County, and Wicomico County.

Commissioner

Calvert County, Carroll County, Garrett County, St. Mary’s County, Somerset County, and Washington County.

Any registered voter living in Charles County can vote on this issue. If you need clarification on your registration status, click here

If you are not registered to vote, click here to learn how to register.

Click here to review if you are already registered to vote.

Voters have several options when casting their ballot for the 2024 General Election:

In-person Voting

On Election Day: Polls will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM on November 5, 2024.

Early Voting: Early voting will be available from Thursday, October 24, 2024, through Thursday, October 31, 2024, (including Saturday and Sunday) from 7 AM to 8 PM.

Click here for a list of early voting centers in Charles County.

Mail-in Voting

Any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot from the Maryland State Board of Elections. To receive your ballot by mail, you must request a ballot by October 29, 2024 by 11:59 PM. The ballot will be mailed 30-40 days before the election.

Click here to request a ballot.

The return envelope must be postmarked by November 5, 2024 for your mail-in ballot to count in the election.

You can drop off the ballot at a ballot drop box. Click here for a list of Charles County locations.

You can also hand-deliver your completed ballot to the Charles County Board of Elections by 8 PM on election day, or you may take it to an early voting center for drop off. Click here for more information on mail-in voting.

When you receive your ballot, the question regarding the proposed 2024 Charles County Charter will appear as follows:

Yes! You can vote before November 5th using a mail-in ballot or by voting at an Early Voting Center.

Early Voting

Early voting will be available from Thursday, October 24, 2024, through Thursday, October 31, 2024, (including Saturday and Sunday) from 7 AM to 8 PM.

Click here for a list of early voting centers in Charles County.

Mail-in Voting

Any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot from the Maryland State Board of Elections. To receive your ballot by mail, you must request a ballot by October 29, 2024 by 11:59 PM. The ballot will be mailed 30-40 days before the election.

Click here to request a ballot.

The return envelope must be postmarked by November 5, 2024 for your mail-in ballot to count in the election.

You can drop off the ballot at a ballot drop box. Click here for a list of Charles County locations.

You can also hand-deliver your completed ballot to the Charles County Board of Elections by 8 PM on election day, or you may take it to an early voting center for drop off. Click here for more information on mail-in voting.

If you need clarification on your polling location, click here to search.

You can also call or email the Charles County Board of Elections with any questions:

• 301-934-8972
• elections@charlescountymd.gov