Obviously, US Federal and State Constitutions have provisions for how to elect your political officals and how long one may remain in term, but is there any sweeping Federal or State authority that controls these things on a local scale? If me and enough of my closest friends moved to the middle of nowhere and formed a town, could we legally put into the town charter that I’m Mayor for Life and upon my death, my son shall be Mayor for Life without an election? Obviously, if I suck a being mayor, everyone will move out and I’ll be mayor of nothing, but that’s not really the point – can I do it without the Feds coming after me?
IANAL, but all the state constitutions set up the provisions for local governments. If your local government turned into a small version of North Korea, the state would likely come in and take over your government.
See “East St. Louis, Illinois”.
The U.S. Constitution requires (for admission, anyway) that all states have a republican form of government – exact details are left up to the state. Most state constitutions enumerate the rights of their citizens, as well as requiring certain offices and policies in city and county governments.
So, no.