Mayoral veto power in Kansas
- General Veto Power: The mayor has the authority to veto any ordinance or resolution passed by the city council, with the exception of charter ordinances.
- Notification of Veto: If the mayor vetoes an ordinance or resolution, they must provide written notice to the council within two days of the veto.
- Veto Overrides: The city council can override a mayoral veto. To do so, they must pass the vetoed ordinance or resolution again, but this time with an affirmative vote of at least five members of the council.
- Failure to Override: If the council does not pass the vetoed measure again within two weeks after the next regular meeting following the veto notification, the ordinance or resolution will not take effect.
- No Action from Mayor: If the mayor does not sign or veto an ordinance or resolution within two weeks of its adoption, the measure will take effect without the mayor's signature.
- Signing Contracts: The mayor is responsible for signing all city contracts before the city is legally obligated to them.
Important considerations
- Charter Ordinances: The mayor does not have the power to veto charter ordinances.
- President Pro Tempore: If neither the mayor nor the mayor pro tempore is present at a meeting, the council can elect a temporary presiding officer by a majority vote, provided a quorum is present.
- Tie-Breaking Votes: The mayor may cast a tie-breaking vote on non-ordinance matters.
- Appropriation Ordinances: Some state laws specify that the mayor may not veto appropriation ordinances and must sign them if present at the meeting.
- President of the Council: The president of the council or acting president does not have the power to sign or veto ordinances in the mayor's absence, according to the Kansas State Legislature.
- Specific Rules Vary: While the information provided covers general Kansas law, specific rules regarding mayoral vetoes might vary slightly depending on the city's charter or code of ordinances.
Note: This information is based on the provided search results and focuses on Kansas law. Mayoral veto power and its limitations can differ significantly in other states and jurisdictions.
