Duties and Responsibilities of a Mayor

The role of a mayor varies from city to city. But some common duties and responsibilities exist in a majority of cities in the United States.

Types

Some cities have strong mayors with significant responsibility, while others have weak mayors who perform primarily ceremonial tasks.

Chief Executive

A mayor is the chief executive officer of the city. Often a city manager is appointed to assist in this executive function.

Presiding Officer

The mayor of many cities is the presiding officer of the city council.

Ceremonial Role

In all cities with a mayor that official is the local governmental representative who undertakes ceremonial roles on behalf of the city, including dedications.

Veto Power

Some mayors in U.S. cities have the power to veto ordinances enacted by the city council.

References

• "State and Municipal Government in the United States"; Everett Kimball; 2008
• "A Bibliography of Municipal Government in the United States"; William Bennett Munro; 2009

Resources

• Office of the Mayor of New York City, New York
• Office of the Mayor of Denver, Colorado
• Office of the Mayor of Topeka, Kansas