Office of Councilmember
Councilmembers are the city’s legislators. Their primary duty is policymaking, which includes identifying the needs of local residents, formulating programs to meet the changing requirements of the community, and measuring the effectiveness of ongoing municipal services. Unless restricted by state law, each councilmember is entitled to vote or abstain on every question decided at a council meeting and has full parliamentary privileges in council meetings—including the right to speak and make motions when recognized by the chair and the right to introduce new ordinances and amendments to existing ones.
Though foremost in importance, lawmaking is just one of many functions councilmembers perform.
• Regulator—The council exercises regulatory powers over the conduct and property of its citizens. It has the power to declare certain conduct to be criminal, to require that certain businesses and activities be licensed, and to tell property owners how and for what purposes they may use their property.
• Financier —The council may levy taxes, assess fees and charges, and sell bonds in order to finance the many functions of the city government. The council also has to budget the expenditure of the city’s funds, and then explain to the people why municipal government is a bargain compared to the price of rampant crime, fires, disease, and all of the other problems that would flourish without proper city services.
• Employer—The council is responsible for all the city’s employees and must see that they are adequately paid and provided with decent working conditions and fringe benefits.
• Buyer—The council is one of the biggest purchasers in the community and must see to it that the city gets the best value possible for dollars spent.
This is not even a complete description of all the challenges that confront councilmembers. The real task is in providing leadership and direction for the city, in deciding what needs to be done, and in helping plan what the city will be for future generations.
Qualifications In general law cities, the qualifications for the office of councilmember are:
1) Be a United States citizen;
2) Have been a resident of Texas for at least 12 months as of the deadline for filing for the office;
3) Have resided in the city for at least six months preceding election day;
4) Be a registered voter;
5) Be 18 years of age or older upon the commencement of the term to be filled at the election;
6) Not have been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities; and
7) Not have been deemed mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court. (Election Code Section 141.001; Local Government Code Sections 22.032 and 23.024).
Office of the Mayor
All members of the city council play unique roles in making the city government operate effectively in a general law city. Many of their functions are set by law, while others are established as a matter of local custom or policy.
Office of the Mayor
The mayor occupies the highest elective office in the municipal government. As political head of the city, the mayor is expected to provide the leadership necessary to keep it moving in the proper direction. Except under the city manager plan of government, the mayor is the city’s chief executive officer. The mayor presides over council meetings and is generally recognized as the ceremonial and governmental head of the city for most purposes.
Most of the powers exercised by the mayor are created through ordinances and resolutions adopted by the city council. Very few mayoral powers are prescribed by state law.
Legislative Responsibilities –The mayor’s most important duty is to carry out the legislative responsibilities he or she shares with other members of the council— identifying the needs of the city, developing programs to satisfy those needs, and evaluating the extent to which municipal services satisfactorily reflect the policy goals of the council. Under the law, the mayor is the presiding officer of the city council. In this capacity as presiding officer, the mayor’s actual powers in legislative matters can be greater than those of other councilmembers. For example, the mayor can influence the flow of debate through the power to recognize councilmembers for motions or statements.
Also, the mayor rules on questions of procedure at council meetings, and those rulings are binding unless successfully challenged by a majority of the governing body.
Finally, the mayor of a Type A general law city can formally object to ordinances and other resolutions passed by the council. If the mayor objects to an ordinance or resolution before the fourth day after it is placed in the city secretary’s office, it must be reconsidered by the governing body. If approved, it becomes effective (Local Government Code Section 52.003).
Appointive Powers — Appointive powers represent another area in which the mayor’s powers often outrank those of councilmembers, especially when the mayor is authorized by ordinance to appoint department heads and advisory board members.
Although most of the mayor’s appointive powers are established by ordinances enacted by the city council, some are established by state law, such as the power to appoint commissioners of a housing authority (Local Government Code Section 392.031).
The mayor serves in the dual roles of administrator and political head of the city, going to city hall on a regular basis, working with department heads on matters that need attention each day, and performing the ceremonial duties that go with the office.
Qualifications of Office In Type A general law City
Every candidate for the office of mayor must meet the following qualifications:
1) Be a United States citizen;
2) Have been a resident of Texas for at least 12 months, as of the deadline for filing for the office;
3) Have resided in the city for at least 12 months preceding election day;
4) Be a registered voter;
5) Be 18 years of age or older upon the commencement of the term to be filled at the election;
6) Not have been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities; and
7) Not have been deemed mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court. (Election Code Section 141.001; Local Government Code Section 22.032).