The Unique Powers of the Nauvoo Charter

In 1840, the Latter-day Saints applied for a charter to protect their city of Nauvoo. The charters granted them legislative powers in the form of a city council and judicial powers that included a municipal court. They also allowed certain city officials to issue writs of habeas corpus - legal mechanism used to question legality of an arrest warrant. In fact, Illinois encouraged cities and towns to form militia units that were part of the larger state militia.