Section 18. Any city or town having a charter under chapter forty-three or forty-three A or a method of electing officers under chapter fifty-four A may change the same in accordance with the procedures for the adoption or amendment of a charter prescribed by this chapter. Except as may be permitted by any general or special law enacted after November eighth, nineteen hundred and sixty-six, no city or town shall adopt or change charters or change its method of electing officers under said chapters forty-three, forty-three A or fifty-four A or under any special laws in effect on such date, including without limitation chapters four hundred and fifty-two of the acts of nineteen hundred and forty-eight, six hundred and sixty-one of the acts of nineteen hundred and forty-nine and one hundred and fifty-two of the acts of nineteen hundred and fifty-four, as amended, and the procedures set forth in this chapter shall be exclusive.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts
Chapter 43b - Home Rule Procedures
Section 1 - Short Title; Definitions
Section 2 - Adoption, Revision or Amendment of Existing Charter
Section 3 - Petition for Adoption and Revision of Charter; Filing; Objections
Section 5 - Charter Commission; Procedure for Nomination and Election of Members
Section 6 - Charter Commission; Number of Members; Election
Section 7 - Charter Commission; Organization; Compensation and Expenses of Members
Section 9 - Hearings Before Charter Commission; Reports of Commission
Section 10 - Amendments to Charter Previously Adopted or Revised Under This Chapter; Procedure
Section 12a - Resubmission of Charter Which Failed of Approval
Section 13 - Exercise of Powers and Functions by Municipalities
Section 14 - Enforcement of This Chapter; Declaratory Relief; Judicial Review
Section 15 - Petitions for Adoption or Revision of Charter or Suggestion of Charter Amendment; Form
Section 16 - Paper or Document Required to Be Filed or Submitted; Presumptions
Section 17 - Election Laws; Applicable and Conflicting Provisions
Section 18 - Method of Electing Officers
Section 19 - Special Laws Enacted After Nov. 8, 1966
Section 20 - Provisions of Charter or Amendment Deemed Consistent With Certain Other Laws