charter from the legislature. Large cities, and small ones with _great
expectations_, usually work under a charter. But the custom is growing of
organizing cities at first under general law. Then if a city outgrows the
general law, grows so that it needs powers and privileges not granted
therein, it may properly ask the legislature for a special charter.

As a type, the principal provisions of the general law of Minnesota are
here given, as follows:

"Whenever the legal voters residing within the limits of a territory
comprising not less than two thousand inhabitants, and not more than
fifteen thousand, and which territory they wish to have incorporated as a
city, shall sign and have presented to the judge of probate of the county
in which such territory is situated, a petition setting forth the metes
and bounds of said city, and of the several wards thereof, and praying
that said city shall be incorporated under such name as may therein be
designated, the judge of probate shall issue an order declaring such
territory duly incorporated as a city, and shall designate the metes,
bounds, wards, and name thereof, as in said petition described." And the
judge of probate designates the time and places of holding the first
election, giving due notice thereof. He also appoints three persons in
each ward, of which there shall be not less than two nor more than five,
to act as judges of election. The corporation is established upon the
presentation of the petition, and the organization is completed by the
election of officers.

The usual elective officers of a city are a mayor, a treasurer, a
recorder, one justice of the peace for each ward, styled "city justice,"
all of whom shall be qualified voters of the city, and one or more
aldermen for each ward, who shall be "qualified voters therein." All other