Mayor of Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mayor of the City of Los Angeles |
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| Government of Los Angeles | |
| Style | Her Honor |
| Residence | Getty House |
| Term length | Four years (renewable once) |
| Inaugural holder | Alpheus P. Hodges |
| Formation | 1850 |
| Salary | $269,365 |
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The Mayor of Los Angeles is the main leader of the city's government. They are like the chief executive, making sure the city runs smoothly. This job is officially nonpartisan, meaning the mayor does not represent a political party while in office. This rule started in 1909.
Since 1850, when California became a state, 42 men and one woman have served as mayor. Before 1850, during the time Los Angeles was part of Mexico, the leader was called an alcalde. The current mayor is Karen Bass. She was elected in November 2022 and started her term on December 12, 2022.
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History of the Mayor's Office
The role of alcalde (which means mayor) for Los Angeles began in 1781. This leader was chosen every year. In 1841, the alcalde position was changed to two "Jueces de Paz" (Justices of the Peace). The alcalde role came back in 1844, still with two officials. When Los Angeles became part of the United States, the title changed to Mayor.
What the Mayor Does
Los Angeles has a council form of government. This means the mayor is the city's chief executive. The mayor chooses people to manage city departments and commissions. They also suggest the city's yearly budget. The Los Angeles City Council must approve most of the mayor's choices and plans.
The mayor can also say "no" to (veto) certain actions made by the City Council. However, the City Council can overrule the mayor's veto if two-thirds of its members vote to do so.
The mayor's office is organized differently by each new mayor. It usually includes a chief of staff and other deputies. These teams help with things like housing, business, and international trade. The mayor has an office in the Los Angeles City Hall. They live at the mayor's official home, Getty House, in Windsor Square.
How a Mayor is Replaced
Citizens can try to remove the mayor from office through a "recall election." This happens if at least 15% of voters sign a petition. If enough people sign, a special election is held. Voters decide if the current mayor should be removed and who should take their place. If the mayor is removed, the new candidate with the most votes becomes mayor.
If the mayor resigns, the Los Angeles City Council can choose a temporary mayor. They can also call a special election to pick a new mayor.
How Mayors Are Elected
The mayor is elected for a four-year term. They can serve a maximum of two terms in a row. Even though the office is nonpartisan, most candidates do say which political party they prefer.
The election uses a two-round system. First, there is a primary election. If a candidate gets more than half of the votes in the primary, they win right away. If no one gets a majority, the top two candidates go to a second election, called the general election.
Mayoral elections used to be in odd-numbered years until 2017. To get more people to vote, the city decided to combine city elections with bigger state and national elections. So, the mayor elected in 2017 served for five and a half years. Now, mayoral elections happen every four years, at the same time as statewide elections. The most recent election was in November 2022. Karen Bass won against Rick Caruso.
See also
- History of Los Angeles
- Timeline of Los Angeles
- Government of Los Angeles
- Los Angeles City Council
- President of the Los Angeles City Council
