In September 1963 Mayor Theodore R. McKeldin appointed a charter revision commission to update the municipal charter of 1946, necessary because of concern for the city's increased dependence on outside sources of income, personal and bureau reorganization, and the need for modern budgetary procedures. Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr. was appointed chairman of the twenty-four member commission, and Enus S. Stockbridge, chairman of a fifty member advisory committee. The reporter, executive secretary, and technical director for the commission was Paul S. Sarbanes.

The commission first met in late September 1963 and four committees or task forces were formed: structure and organization of principal officers (chairman, Dr. Harry Bard); structure and organization of executive departments (chairman, Norman P. Ramsey); budget, financial and purchasing procedures (chairman, Samuel Hopkins); and personnel (chairman, Dr. M. Gordon Wolman). An executive committee was established to coordinate these four committees which consisted of of Murnaghan, Sarbanes, the four committee chairmen, Judge Joseph Allen, and M. William Adelson (the last two both members of the commission).

Proposals of the commission included that the mayor be allowed to appoint an assistant mayor; the mayor be allowed to designate or redesignate the heads of the various boards and commissions; creation of a Department of Personnel under the mayor; reorganize the Department of Public Works; place all fiscal functions under the mayor in a Department of Finance; place all the audit functions under the comptroller; alteration of budgeting procedures; charter status for the urban renewal and a housing agency, and a Department of Transit and Traffic; and change of election dates from May to November, extension of terms, and a new time for taking office from May to December.

The commission's final report and the proposed amended charter were submitted to the mayor on April 6, 1964. Mayor McKeldin endorsed the proposed charter and submitted it to the city council in late April and it was referred to the budget and finance committee chaired by George W. Arthur. Public hearings were held in May and early June. The Arthur committee's suggested amendments generally represented improvements of a technical nature while others indicated a substantial difference in policy. Along with the numerous amendments by the Arthur Committee there were a few by the council, the major one denying charter status to the urban renewal and housing agency. The committee's report as amended was adopted and ultimately approved by the voters. The commission was formally terminated in July 1964.