The chief executive officer of a city is the mayor who is generally elected by the people.
The power of city government is vested in the mayor and the city council.
For convenience a city is divided into subdivisions called wards, and for elections into certain voting precincts called election districts.
The board of aldermen or council is composed of one person chosen from each ward by the voters. Their power is limited by the city charter.
Voters are responsible for their government and much of our happiness depends upon the way our city is managed.
Many cities have adopted the commission form of government by electing a non-partisan ticket composed of several commissioners. Each commissioner is put in charge of a division of the city's administration and held responsible for the work of his department.
The mayor of a city presides over the meetings of the council and sometimes vetos measures passed. He is elected by the voters. The chief duty of the mayor is to see that the laws and ordinances are enforced.
In large cities there is a system of courts extending from the police court to the higher courts.
Appeals from the courts of the city are taken to the circuit court and may go from there to the Supreme Court of the State.
Cities are divided into six classes in Kentucky: