Mayor

government · leadership · cities · local politics

Top City Leader. A mayor is usually the most important official running a city or town's government, kind of like how a president runs a country.

Different Ways to Choose. Some mayors are elected directly by the people voting, while in other places the city council picks who becomes mayor.

Powers Vary Widely. In some cities, a mayor has lots of power to make big decisions, but in other places they mainly just chair meetings and have very little real authority.

Running the Government. Mayors often hire and manage city workers, make sure basic services like trash collection and street repairs happen, and enforce the rules that the city council creates.

Differences Everywhere. The job of being mayor is different in almost every country and city, depending on local laws and traditions about who has power and what they can do.