The City Charter is New York City's constitution. It is easier to amend than the United States or state constitutions — but the route a change must travel depends on what it touches, and one office holds a trump card.
The Council passes it and the Mayor approves it, through the regular local lawmaking process. It takes effect with no public vote.
Changes to elected officials' powers can't take effect on a Council vote alone. They have to reach the ballot one of two ways:
By far the most common: 12 of the 14 commissions since 1998. Handpicks 9 to 15 city residents and names the chair.
Can convene its own commission — as the Council did for ranked-choice voting in 2019.
Residents can launch a commission from the ground up.
When a mayoral commission puts an amendment on the ballot, state law bars any other question from going to the voters at that same election. A mayor can use a commission to knock the Council's — or the voters' — proposals off the ballot entirely.