We the people of the Haines Borough, exercising the powers of home rule granted by the Constitution of the State of Alaska, in order to achieve common goals, to support individual rights, to form a more responsive government, and to secure maximum control of our own local affairs, hereby establish this charter.

This charter guarantees to the people of the Haines Borough the following rights that are in addition to the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Alaska:

The right to a government of the people, by the people and for the people, which safeguards our diversity, harmony between neighbors and respect for the environment;

The right to access a well maintained public record of all actions of public officials in accordance with this charter, so that the citizens of the borough may retain control over the affairs of their government;

The right to enjoyment of private property, chosen lifestyles, traditions, employment, and recreational activities without unnecessarily restrictive or arbitrary laws or regulations.

We, the people of the Haines Borough, believe the rights set out in the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Alaska, like those in this Charter, are guaranteed only to individual human beings and do not apply to artificial entities. (Amended by voters October 1, 2013)