<P> A city charter or town charter (generically, municipal charter) is a legal document (charter) establishing a municipality such as a city or town . The concept developed in Europe during the Middle Ages . </P> <P> Traditionally the granting of a charter gave a settlement and its inhabitants the right to town privileges under the feudal system . Townspeople who lived in chartered towns were burghers, as opposed to serfs who lived in villages . Towns were often "free", in the sense that they were directly protected by the king or emperor, and were not part of a feudal fief . </P> <P> Today the process for granting is determined by the type of government of the state in question . In monarchies, charters are still often a royal charter given by the Crown or the state authorities acting on behalf of the Crown . In federations, the granting of charters may be within the jurisdiction of the lower level of government such as a state or province . </P> <P> In Canada charters are granted by provincial authorities . </P>

Who grants a city charter to a community