islature. The act or deed of incorporation is called the city
charter. The charter names the city, fixes its limits, erects it as a
distinct political corporation, sets forth its powers and privileges,
names its officers, prescribes their duties, and authorizes the city to
act as an independent government. The legislature may amend the
charter at any time, and the acts and laws of the city must not
conflict with the constitution of the State or of the United States.

WARDS.--The city is usually divided into wards for convenience in
executing the laws, and especially in electing representatives in the
city government. Wards vary greatly in area and population, and their
number depends in a measure upon the size of the city. Each usually
elects a member of the board of education, and one or more members of
each branch of the city council. Each ward is subdivided into
precincts for convenience in establishing polling-places.

CITY INSTITUTIONS.--Cities maintain a number of institutions, peculiar
to themselves, for the public welfare. The frequency of destructive
fires causes the formation of a fire department. A police force must
be organized to protect life and property. A system of sewerage is
necessary to the public health. There must be gas-works or
electric-light works, that the streets may be lighted, and water-works
to supply water for public and private use. In many cities gas-works
and water-works are operated by private parties or by private
corporations.

FINANCES.--Each city has an independent financial system, which
requires skillful management. The city borrows money, issuing
interest-bearing bonds in payment, and engages in extensive public
improvements. The large outlays for paving the streets, constructing
water-works, laying out parks, erecting public buildings, and for
maintaining police systems and fire departments, cause cities to incur
debts often amounting to many millions of dollars. As the result of
the greater expense of its government, and as its people also pay State
and county taxes, the rate of taxation in a city is far greater than in
rural districts and villages.

CITIZENS: RIGHTS AND DUTIES.--The qualifications, the rights, and the
duties of citizens of the city are the same as those of citizens of the
township and the county. The qualifications of voters are also usually
the same. The duties of voters are the same in all elections, whether
in the school district, the ci