Local Government Law: Portland’s Charter Review project is both dry and fascinating. If you will be asked to vote on it (e.g. you are a Portland resident), here is a place to begin gathering information. (Allow plenty of time to learn – and I don’t want to hear any excuses a year from now that you weren’t given an opportunity to participate or become informed before having to vote.) If you won’t be asked to vote on it (e.g. you are not a Portland resident or are under 18), some of the documents at the Charter Review Commission web site may still be interesting and useful. You can never know too much about how your government operates, whatever hamlet, village, town, city, state, or country you live in. The Charter Review Commission even have a blog and as is true of many blogs, the comments are the best part.