Kansas City Budget Hearing #1

The 13-member City Council is the City’s legislative and policy-making body. Its members, including the mayor, are elected to four-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms.

Kansas City, Missouri is divided into six council districts that are revised according to population at least every five years. The mayor and six City Council members are elected at large. The other six members of the City Council are elected from within the districts they serve. Candidates for mayor and City Council positions must be at least 25 years old, qualified City voters, residents of the City for five years and of their district for six months, and have paid City and county taxes for two years before election.

The mayor is the chief elected official of the City, and president of the City Council. The mayor possesses all the powers and duties of a City Council member. The mayor appoints most members of council committees and the City’s advisory boards and commissions. The mayor signs all ordinances and bonds authorized by the City Council and is an ex-officio member of the Board of Police Commissioners. The mayor also suggests, for City Council ratification, one City Councilmember as mayor pro tem to serve during the mayor’s absence or a period of disability.

The City Council sets the overall policy for the City by adopting resolutions and ordinances, making appropriations and approving budgets for all departments and conducting public hearings on City affairs. After an ordinance or resolution is passed or the budget is adopted, the City Council continues to monitor the results of its actions through studies, surveys and hearings.