Chartered Free City

Chartered Free Cities (often simply called Chartered Cities or Free Cities) are cities within the Helvandrian League which have been granted a form of self-rule. They are independent of any other League member states, meaning they are entitled to govern their own affairs rather than being subject to the authority of whatever duke, archon, or other magnate might control the surrounding territory. The Helvandrian League currently contains nine Chartered Free Cities: Lamasar, Ulbromod, Helonne, Bain-Huran, Truax, Sarnash, Talapos, Agla, and Lindenstone. 
These cities lack the electoral rights accorded to full-fledged League member states (i.e. those whose rulers hold the rank of Elector), but in most other ways they have the same status and privileges. They are able to make their own laws and administer justice within their own boundaries, and are entitled to levy taxes and tariffs just like full-fledged League members, since they are also responsible for their own defense and the upkeep of their public works. Accordingly they are also entitled to raise and maintain their own men under arms. The term "Chartered Free City" refers to the charters or writs of entitlement granted to these cities from the League's Prince-Palatine, which free them from the overlordship of any outside ruler and grant them their privileges. The specifics of the charter may vary from city to city, since each was written up individually at a different time in the League's history, and each has its own unique features and idiosyncrasies.
The specific form of government found in these self-ruling cities also varies considerably. Some have hereditary lords just like many of the larger League states, distinguished only by less-lofty titles and the lack of Elector's rank. Others are governed by elected councils, often chosen by the prominent (i.e. wealthiest) citizens and/or the most influential guild officials, although in a few cases (most notably Sarnash) a much larger portion of the city's inhabitants are allowed to vote. In others still (e.g. Ulbromod), governance is in the hands of a politically influential priesthood based in the city, making them essentially miniature temple-states.