Mayor is the head of a city or town government in the United States and many other countries. In some cases, the term may also be used to describe the chief official at other levels of government. The people of England have used the title for hundreds of years. Colonists in America brought the name and office with them from England. In the United States, two kinds of mayors, called strong and weak, developed.
In cities that have a strong-mayor government, the mayor takes a leading part in city administration. Such mayors enforce laws passed by the city council and can veto council rulings. They appoint lesser officials and may name a managing director or chief administrative officer to supervise government operations. In most strong-mayor governments, the mayor is chosen by the voters in a direct election.
In cities that have a weak-mayor government, the mayor has little executive authority. The mayor is the head of the government of the city. But the city council has the final authority in directing the city’s administration. In most weak-mayor governments, the council elects one of its members as mayor.
In Austria, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, the mayor is often called the burgomaster. The duties of a burgomaster are substantially those of a mayor in the United States. The position of mayor in the United Kingdom is largely honorary. In Canada, the mayor enforces ordinances, supervises lower officials, and presents proposals to the city council.
