City Charter

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Article XI, Section 9 (of the 1972 Montana Constitution) mandated that the legislature establish procedures that would require every unit of county and municipal government to undergo periodic citizen review of the structures of their local government. This Local Government Review process was unprecedented in the United States and remains, after more than three decades and four complete Voter Review cycles, a truly distinctive characteristic of the Montana political landscape and, arguably, one of the most important innovations in modernizing the performance and accountability of local government in the twentieth century (and beyond).

— Dr. Kenneth Weaver, Montana's Local Government Review

Every 10 Years The Citizens Vote To Review The Existing Form Of Government.  Three Forks Currently Operates Under The Commission With Charter Form Of Government. 

The Most Recent Ballot Was In June 2024.  This Did Not Pass For Three Forks, Which In Turn Is Understood That The Citizens Feel The Existing Form Of Government Is Working Well.

HISTORY

In 1974 the Three Forks voters did conduct a review and have a Study Commission propose to amendment Three Forks’ “self-governing powers” to the “Commission-Executive” form of government. This failed.

In 1984, voters again approved to have a Study Commission, however no proposed changes were recommended. The same happened in 1994.

In 2004, the voters approved the Study Commission who recommended moving from the “Commission-Executive” form to “Charter form of government with self-governing powers”. This was approved in the general election and the City of Three Forks adopted its Charter in 2006.

In 2014, voters failed to vote for a study commission.

In 2024, voters failed to vote for a study commission.