mayoral

Mayoral is an adjective relating to a mayor, the elected head of a city or town, or to the office and duties associated with that position. It is used to describe aspects of municipal governance, such as mayoral elections, powers, or term length, and can refer to the tenure of a mayor (mayoral term) or events in the office (mayoral succession).

In municipal government, the form and scope of the mayorship vary by system. In a strong-mayor government, the mayor acts as the chief executive with substantial administrative and budgetary authority. In a weak-mayor or ceremonial system, the mayor’s powers are limited and other officials, often a city manager, handle daily administration. Some jurisdictions employ hybrid arrangements with a largely ceremonial mayor and an appointed administrator.

Mayoral elections occur at regular intervals, with term lengths commonly four years but sometimes shorter or longer depending on the jurisdiction. Elections may be partisan or nonpartisan, and many places impose term limits or re-election requirements. The term may also be used in discussions of governance to analyze the authority, accountability, and performance of city leadership.

Related terms include mayor, mayoralty, mayoral election, and municipal government. The concept appears across legal, political science, and journalistic writing when examining the leadership and administrative structure of cities and towns.