What City Council Members and Mayors Do

City and town government is the level closest to home. Council members and mayors decide on things residents notice right away: police and fire staffing, trash pickup, water and sewer rates, sidewalks, parks, zoning and business licenses. If you live inside city or town limits, your council is the body that most directly shapes your street.

The job can look very different from one city to the next. In one town, the mayor is the full-time boss of every department. In the next town over, the mayor chairs meetings and cuts ribbons while a hired manager runs the city. The difference comes down to your city's form of government.

What every city council does

Whatever form your city uses, the council is its legislative body. In most places the council:

Adopts the budget and sets tax rates, fees and utility rates within state limits.
Passes ordinances on zoning, land use, nuisances, parking, business licensing and similar local matters.
Approves major contracts, borrowing and capital projects like new fire stations or road work.
Makes appointments to planning commissions, zoning appeals boards and other citizen boards.
Oversees city operations by setting policy, reviewing performance and hearing from residents.

Like other local boards, the council acts as a group. A single member generally can't direct city employees or commit the city to anything. Decisions happen by vote in a public meeting.

The forms of city government

The National League of Cities (NLC) describes five forms of municipal government. Most cities use one of the first two.

Form	How it works
Council-manager	The elected council sets policy and the budget, then appoints a professional manager to run daily operations. The mayor is often a council member chosen to preside. NLC calls this the most common form.
Mayor-council	The mayor is elected separately, often works full time and may have significant administrative and budget authority. The council keeps legislative power. Depending on the charter, the mayor may be "strong" or "weak."
Commission	Voters elect a small board of commissioners, and each one oversees an area such as public works or finance. NLC reports it is used in less than 1 percent of cities.
Town meeting	All voters meet to decide basic policy and elect officials to carry it out.
Representative town meeting	Voters elect a large group of citizens to vote at town meetings for them. NLC notes this is found mostly in small New England towns.

Strong mayors and weak mayors

"Strong" and "weak" aren't judgments about the person. They describe how much power the office has on paper.

A strong mayor is the city's chief executive. The mayor usually hires and supervises department heads, prepares the budget for council to review and makes sure ordinances are carried out. This is close to a full-time management job, and it is often paid like one.

A weak or ceremonial mayor presides over council meetings, represents the city at events and with other governments and may have a few extra duties. Administrative power sits with the full council or a hired manager. This role can be part time, though the public will still see you as the face of the city.

What a council member's week looks like

Expect regular council meetings, usually once or twice a month, plus work sessions, committee meetings and public hearings on zoning cases and the budget. Each meeting comes with an agenda packet to read in advance.

Between meetings, residents will call about potholes, code enforcement, a neighbor's barking dog or a rezoning next door. In a small town, people will stop you at the grocery store. Many council seats are part time with modest pay, but the role follows you everywhere. Our guide to time and family commitment covers how to plan for that.

One more thing to learn early: state open meetings laws. In many states, when a quorum of council gets together to discuss city business, that counts as a meeting that requires public notice, even if it happens by email or at a social event. The Municipal Association of South Carolina, for example, advises council members to avoid discussing city business when a quorum gathers without notice.

Wards, districts and at-large seats

Some cities elect council members by ward or district. Others elect every member citywide, and some use a mix. A directly elected mayor runs citywide. Your seat type affects how many voters you need to reach, how much you'll spend and which neighborhoods you'll represent. Ask your municipal clerk for the current ward map and confirm your address is inside the right lines.

City elections also often run on their own calendar, separate from state and federal elections. Some cities hold them in odd-numbered years or in the spring. Map your dates early with the election calendar builder.

How to learn your city before you run

Find your city charter or code of ordinances online and read the sections on the mayor, council and manager.
Identify your form of government and who prepares the budget.
Attend several council meetings and at least one planning commission meeting.
Read the current budget summary and any capital improvement plan.
Call your state municipal league. Many offer free guides for candidates and new officials.
Ask a current or former council member what the job really takes.

Find out early whether your city's races are partisan or nonpartisan, too. Our guide to partisan and nonpartisan races explains the difference, and candidate eligibility requirements covers residency and other rules.

Running for mayor or for council?

If your city has a strong mayor, that race is a race for a management job, and voters will want to know you can run an organization. A council seat is about representation, policy and teamwork. Neither is a lesser calling. Many mayors started on council, learned the budget and built relationships first. Pick the seat that matches the time you have and the kind of work you want to do.

Common questions

What is the difference between a strong mayor and a weak mayor?

A strong mayor runs the city's administration, often hiring department heads and preparing the budget. A weak or ceremonial mayor presides over council meetings and represents the city but has little more formal power than other council members. Your city charter or state law decides which you have.

Does the mayor get a vote on the council?

It depends on the city. In some forms the mayor votes as a member of council. In others the mayor votes only to break ties or has veto power instead. Check your charter.

What does a city manager do?

In the council-manager form, the council hires a professional manager to run daily operations, supervise staff and prepare the budget. The council sets policy and can replace the manager.

Can I run for city council if I live outside city limits?

Generally no. Municipal offices usually require you to live inside the city, and sometimes inside a specific ward or district. Confirm the rules with your municipal clerk or election office.

Sources

Rules change. Always confirm with your own state and local election offices.