City councils are elected bodies that pass laws, oversee city government, and allocate funds. They may have specialist commissions and hold open meetings. Council organization varies, but members are usually elected from districts. Some cities have council-manager or mayor-council governments. Council members must be legal citizens of voting age.
A city council is a form of government used in many cities around the world. Council members are elected by the citizens and work together to pass laws, make general policies, oversee city government, and appropriate funds for various needs. The work of a council is usually supported by a number of specialist commissions which focus on specific issues such as policing, urban planning and public works. Generally, board meetings are open to the public, and government input is welcome.
The exact organization of a city council varies depending on where it is located in the world. As a general rule, members are elected from the various districts of the city. Each is responsible for representing the needs and wants of their district. These members may be able to appoint members to other committees and often vote among themselves to determine who will serve as chair or speaker for the board.
In some cases, the mayor sits on the council, adding input and setting up meetings. In other cases, he works separately. A council member is usually also the pro tempom mayor, next in authority. In the event of the auditor’s unavailability for any reason, he temporarily takes over the office of pro tempore auditor.
Many cities have council-manager government, where most local government decisions are made by the council. This type of government limits the power of the mayor, even if it certainly contributes. In other cases, a mayor council government is used, giving the mayor more authority and sometimes even a veto power. Typically, the mayor will prepare the budget for a mayor-council government, although the council may veto it.
The requirements to serve on the city council vary. In most cases, applicants must be legal citizens of voting age, although age requirements are sometimes more restrictive. Candidates may engage in debate during their campaigns and, like politicians at a broader level, usually propose changes they will implement if elected. In small towns, municipal elections can get quite tense at times, as the politics of smaller towns can get very complicated.
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