11.   Miller had been guarded about discussing her candidacy because the city charter states she must resign her council seat once she announces her bid for mayor.

12.   One or two ballot questions related to the city charter would be challenging enough, several officials say.

13.   People here speculate that Timoney is leaving because he is tired of battling the police union and a city charter that sharply restricts his ability to make top appointments.

14.   Prosecutors said that the personnel changes had violated the city charter, which allows the mayor only to hire or to dismiss the city manager.

15.   The city charter designates the public advocate as next in line in case the mayor leaves office prematurely.

16.   The process has bogged down because some members of the Civil Service Board have complained that the diversity plan violates the city charter.

17.   Under the city charter, the city attorney may settle a case, but only after being directed to do so by the Board of Supervisors.

18.   Under the conflict-of-interest provision of the city charter, a former city employee must wait a year before doing business with a city vendor.

19.   Vallone played a prominent role in a subsequent revision of the city charter that gave the council more budgetary and land-use powers.

20.   After electing Cherepkov as its head, the legislature also passed a city charter which says the mayor does not have to be elected in a public vote.