councilandmayor

The term council and mayor refers to a form of municipal government in which a city council acts as the legislative body and an elected mayor serves as the executive. This arrangement is one of the most common forms of city government in the United States and is used in many cities around the world, with variations in how power is distributed and exercised. The precise division of responsibilities is typically defined by a city charter or equivalent legal framework.

In a strong-mayor system, the mayor has substantial independent executive authority. The mayor usually appoints and can remove department heads, presents the annual budget, and oversees city administration. The council enacts ordinances and resolutions, approves budgets, and may have the power to override the mayor’s veto with a supermajority vote. The mayor often has significant influence over policy and administrative direction.

In a weak-mayor arrangement, the mayor’s executive powers are limited and day-to-day administration is frequently carried out by a professional city manager or administrator. The council retains most policymaking and budgetary authority, and the mayor’s role may be largely ceremonial, including presiding over council meetings and representing the city externally.

Elections and terms vary: mayors are typically elected separately from council members, who may be chosen from districts or at large. Terms commonly range from two to four years and may be subject to term limits. The specific powers and procedures are determined by charter provisions and local laws.

Variants include the council-manager form, where a professional manager handles administration and a largely ceremonial mayor presides over the council. The council and mayor model emphasizes direct electoral accountability and political leadership, while the council-manager model emphasizes professional administration.