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MayorsThe world's largest cities and their mayors
 Polish local governmentand mayors of largest cities Government: Since 1999, Poland has been divided into provinces, counties and municipalities. The country has currently 16 provinces, 379 counties, including 65 cities with county status, and 2,479 communes or municipalities. Some 61 per cent of Poland's population of 38.6 million live in cities. The country's capital Warsaw is home to 1.7 million people, while there are four other cities with populations of more than 500,000. Eleven cities have populations of between 200,000 and half a million. MORE  German local governmentand mayors of largest cities Government: Germany is a country made up of thousands of towns and cities, all with directly elected mayors. A city (Großstadt) is officially defined as an administration unit with a population greater than 100,000. As of 2013, there are 76 cities in Germany. Only four cities, Berlin, Hamburg, München (Munich) and Köln (Cologne), are Millionenstädte - cities with a population of more than one million. Nine cities have a population of more than 500,000 people. The mayors’ terms of office vary between five and nine years, depending on the state. Each municipal council is headed by an elected mayor, known as Bürgermeister - or Oberbürgermeister (lord mayor) in most larger cities. Extended and updated March 2017  US local government andmayors of largest cities Government: There are 19,429 municipal governments in the United States. Many small towns use the council-manager system (most counties are run this way) and those that don’t, have a weak mayor-council system. Almost all large US cities have strong mayor systems. Towns with populations of 5,000 or less (varies between states) are not allowed to incorporate and are overseen by the county government. Mayors, and the city council, are directly elected. MORE  Canadian local governmentand mayors of largest cities Government: In Canada cities and towns are considered creatures of provincial and territorial governments, existing by provincial and territorial legislation. Provinces and territories can create, modify, or eliminate a municipality as they see fit such as amalgamations and the creation of regional governments. They also dictate the limits of the powers of municipal governments. Municipalities are broadly categorized as ‘Upper tier’ municipalities and ‘Lower Tier’ municipalities. There are also cities, which are large enough to function as independent municipalities. These include the City of Toronto and the City of Ottawa. MORE  French local governmentand mayor of largest cities Government: Mainland France consists of 36,569 municipalities (communes) in 22 regions. In addition there are 212 communes in French overseas territories. Council elections are held every six years. The last one was held in March 2014. The first task of a newly constituted council is to elect a mayor, whose term of office is six years. If a mayor is appointed to another post in government, a deputy performs his/her duties. A mayor’s responsibilities include: Civil registration, culture, economy, education, environment, public order, roads, social welfare, urban planning. MORE  Spanish local governmentand mayors of largest cities Government: Spanish local government is considered the tier closest to citizens. It is most directly concerned with the daily life of people. Spain is divided into Municipalities (Municipios), with the exception of the Royal Bardenas, in Navarre, a territory declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The governance of the municipalities belongs to the City Council. It is a collegiate organ that leads the municipal administration. The City Council is made up of Councillors, elected by popular vote. The number of councillors may vary according to the number of residents, from five to 25. In the municipal elections, all European Union citizens, regardless of nationality, may vote and stand for office. MORE Polish local governmentand mayors of largest cities Government: Since 1999, Poland has been divided into provinces, counties and municipalities. The country has currently 16 provinces, 379 counties, including 65 cities with county status, and 2,479 communes or municipalities. Some 61 per cent of Poland's population of 38.6 million live in cities. The country's capital Warsaw is home to 1.7 million people, while there are four other cities with populations of more than 500,000. Eleven cities have populations of between 200,000 and half a million. MORE  English local governmentand directly elected mayors 9 May 2016: All but 16 of the 326 councils in England are led by a Council Leader elected by their fellow councillors. Since 2002 a small number, as well as Greater London, have been led by mayors elected directly by local voters. Most of the elected mayors in England have responsibility for all local services, with two district council mayors responsible for only environment, planning and housing. All 17 elected mayors are elected on four year terms by the instant run-off Supplementary Vote. There are no elected mayors in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. View complete update following May 2016 elections  Belgian local governmentand mayors of largest cities Government: Municipal governments in Belgium are vigorous political entities with significant powers and a history of independence dating from medieval times. Many national politicians originate from municipal political bases; and many often double as mayor or alderman in their hometowns in addition to their federal and regional political positions. MORE Japanese Mayors 14 November 2013: Japan, the world’s third-largest economy by GDP and 10th largest population, is a unitary state, governed at national level by a Prime Minister and Cabinet largely chosen from the bicameral National Diet. The two-tier local government system in Japan is composed of 47 prefectural governments (roughly akin to a county), each headed by a directly-elected Governor (elected on a four-year term) and 1,719 municipalities, each headed by a directly-elected Mayor More. Colombian mayors 12 August 2012: Colombia is divided into 32 departments (states) and the Bogotá federal district and subdivided into 1,011 municipalities. Departments control their own finances, as well as administration, within the limits set by the constitution. Governors of departments, once appointed by the president, are now elected. Each departmental assembly meets yearly for a session of two months. Assembly members are elected by universal suffrage, one for each 40,000 inhabitants. More Czech mayors 18 January 2012: In the Czech Republic members of municipal councils are directly elected using a proportional electoral system. Every citizen of the Czech Republic over eighteen years of age has the right to vote and to run for municipal office. The term of a municipal council is four years. Mayors are elected by and responsible to their councils. More Mexican Mayors 12 December 2011: The Mexican Republic consists of 31 states and a Federal District, the country’s capital Mexico City. Within the 31 states there are 2,377 municipalities with 145,712 local communities of varying sizes. Local government elections are held every three years. Mayors in Mexico - with the exception of the Mayor of Mexico City, who has a six-year term - are elected for one three-year term and cannot be re-elected. Mexican mayors share power with municipal councils, who are indirectly elected, also for three years. ‘Mayors’ in Mexico are actually called ‘municipal presidents’ (presidente municipal). A different official represents the city legally. More German Mayors 3 November 2011: Germany is a country of thousands of medium-sized towns and cities. The mayors’ terms of office vary between five and nine years, depending on the state. Only four cities, Berlin, Hamburg, München (Munich) and Köln (Cologne), are Millionenstädte - cities with a population of more than one million. Another nine German cities have a population of more than 500,000 people. Each municipal council is headed by an elected mayor, known as the Bürgermeister - or Oberbürgermeister in larger cities. More Chilean Mayors 27 September 2011: Chile is a unitary and relatively centralised state consisting of 15 regions, 51 provinces and around 346 municipalities or communes in descending order of geographic scale. Mayors and local councilors are elected every four years from the same roster of candidates, with the mayoral seat going to the candidate with the highest number of votes. Chile’s current institutional structure was developed under the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. More Argentine Mayors 30 August 2011: Argentina is a federal state, made up of 23 provinces, a federal district and more than 1,000 municipalities. The country is predominantly urban, with around 83 per cent of the population living in cities. Municipalities generally have few powers and little financial muscle. They are usually responsible for defining land use, zoning, regulating pollution, waste collection, urban hygiene, lighting, street conservation and sewage. More Canadian Mayors 28 August 2011: In Canada cities and towns are considered creatures of provincial and territorial governments, existing by provincial and territorial legislation. Provinces and territories can create, modify, or eliminate a municipality as they see fit such as amalgamations and the creation of regional governments. They also dictate the limits of the powers of municipal governments including mayors. More Brazilian Mayors 26 August 2011: Brazil is a federal republic consisting of 26 states and a federal district.The country also has almost 5,000 self-governing municipalities.Government in Brazil’s municipalities is structured with a separation maintained between the executive in the form of a mayor, and the unicameral legislative city council. Elections for mayor require a victor with more than 50 per cent of the vote, with the exception of cities with less than 200,000 inhabitants. More British Mayors 17 November 2012: All but 16 of the 326 councils in England are led by a Council Leader elected by their fellow councillors. Since 2002 a small number, as well as Greater London, have been led by mayors elected directly by local voters. Most of the elected mayors in England have responsibility for all local services, with two district council mayors responsible for only environment, planning and housing. All 17 elected mayors are elected on four year terms by the instant run-off Supplementary Vote. There are no elected mayors in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. More Spanish Mayors 20 August 2011: Spain consists of 8,109 municipalities in 17 regions. Local council elections are held every four years. The last one took place in May 2011. The president of the city council is the mayor, who is elected by and from the councillors. Mayors' responsibilities include: Environment, roads, urban planning and water. Mayors of larger municipalities are also responsible for culture, environment, fire services, social services, transport and waste. More French Mayors 19 August 2011: Mainland France consists of 36,569 municipalities (communes) in 22 regions. In addition there are 212 communes in French overseas territories. Council elections are held every six years. The last one was held in March 2008. The first task of a newly constituted council is to elect a mayor, whose term of office is six years. If a mayor is appointed to another post in government, a deputy performs his/her duties. A mayor’s responsibilities include: Civil registration, culture, economy, education, environment, public order, roads, social welfare, urban planning. More Mayors and their political parties 11 January 2010: We are living in the so-called century of the city and most cities are governed by elected mayors. Over the past decade conservatives have scored a number of electoral successes across the world, with many citizens identifying with their messages on security, leaner government and lower taxes. However, research by City Mayors shows that many of the world’s largest and most prominent cities are still governed by mayors from the left or centre-left. More Mayors from Africa, Asia The Americas and Europe 1 October 2009: While urban settlements have been around for millennia, increasingly cities are beginning to acquire their own narratives and political importance, not only as places to live but also as drivers of national social values and economies with their own global networks. Though the agglomerative effects of cities as part of globalisation is widely understood and universal, city leadership models remain as diverse as ever, but with common trends on each continent: Africa, Asia, The Americas and Europe. |
 The 2016 World Mayor Honours 1 Bart Somers, Mechelen, Belgium 2 Wolfgang G Müller, Lahr, Germany 3 Georgios Kaminis, Athens, Greece 4 Guisi Nicolini, Lampedusa, Italy 5 Richard Arnold, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany 6 Mirjam van 't Veld, Amstelveen Netherlands 7 Spiros Galinos, Lesbos, Greece 8 Pavel Adamowicz, Gdansk, Poland 9 Damien Carême, Grande-Synthe, France 10 Henriette Reker, Cologne, Germany World Mayor enquiries: worldmayor@gmail.com |
