City Council has been talking a lot about the McKinney city charter lately with a charter election taking place May 4. Council voted during a meeting Feb. 5 to call for the election.

Home rule cities, such as McKinney, have city charters. A home rule city is any city with a population of more than 5,000 people where the residents have adopted a home rule charter, according to the Texas Municipal League. A city charter establishes the city’s governmental structure and determines the distribution of powers and duties, given they are not prohibited by state law.

For instance, a city charter can determine the number of people on a city council or determine the responsibilities of governmental bodies, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

McKinney’s city charter was adopted in 1959. Recommended changes to the charter in May would ease the requirements that trigger a recall election by requiring fewer signatures.