Type of Government :

The Constitution of the State of California established two types of cities: Charter and General Law. At first glance they appear similar as they pertain to day-to-day- operations. A Charter City, however, has considerably more authority than a General Law City to tax, to regulate and to adopt its own procedures and organization. A General Law City, on the other hand, may exercise only those powers expressly given to it under State law. All cities begin as General Law cities, and the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea has chosen to remain such.