reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MT Code § 7-3-442 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 4. Commission Government|7-3-442. Auditor

  7-3-442. Auditor. An auditor:   (1) may be elected;   (2) may be appointed by the local government commission;   (3) may be appointed by the presiding officer of the local government commission;   (4) may be selected as provided by ordinance;   (5) may at the discretion of the commission be selected as provided by ordinance; or   (6) may not be included in this form as a separate office.   History: En. 47A-3-205 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-205(3)(k); amd. Sec. 317, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-501 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-501. Commission-presiding officer form

  7-3-501. Commission-presiding officer form. The commission-presiding officer form consists of an elected commission, which may also be referred to as the council, and a commission presiding officer, who may also be referred to as mayor or as president, elected by the members of the commission from their own number and serving at the pleasure of the commission.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(part); amd. Sec. 318, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-502 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-502. Nature of government

  7-3-502. Nature of government. The plan of government submitted to the qualified electors shall determine the powers of the local government unit by authorizing:   (1) general government powers; or   (2) self-government powers.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(4).
MT Code § 7-3-503 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-503. Role and duties of presiding officer

  7-3-503. Role and duties of presiding officer. The commission presiding officer:   (1) must be recognized as the head of the local government unit, must have the power to vote as other members of the commission, and must be the chief executive officer of the local government;   (2) shall enforce laws, ordinances, and resolutions;   (3) shall perform duties required by law, ordinance, or resolution;   (4) shall administer the affairs of the local government;   (5) shall direct, supervise, and administer all departments, agencies, and offices of the local government except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance;   (6) shall carry out policies established by the commission;   (7) shall prepare the commission agenda;   (8) shall recommend measures to the commission;   (9) shall report to the commission on the affairs and financial condition of the local government;   (10) shall execute bonds, notes, contracts, and written obligations of the commission, subject to the approval of the commission;   (11) shall report to the commission as the commission may require;   (12) shall attend commission meetings and may take part in discussions;   (13) shall execute the budget adopted by the commission;   (14) shall appoint, with the consent of the commission, all members of boards and committees. However, the presiding officer may appoint without the consent of the commission temporary advisory committees.   (15) shall appoint, with the consent of a majority of the commission, all department heads, and the presiding officer may remove department heads and may appoint and remove all other employees;   (16) shall prepare the budget and present it to the commission for adoption; and   (17) shall exercise control and supervision over the administration of departments and boards.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(part); amd. Sec. 319, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-504 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-504. through 7-3-510 reserved

  7-3-504 through 7-3-510 reserved.
MT Code § 7-3-511 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-511. Structural suboptions

  7-3-511. Structural suboptions. The plan of government submitted to the qualified electors shall further define the structural characteristics of the form by including one item from each of the choices listed in 7-3-512 through 7-3-517.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(part).
MT Code § 7-3-512 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-512. Selection of commission members

  7-3-512. Selection of commission members. The commission shall be:   (1) elected at large;   (2) elected by districts in which candidates must reside and which are apportioned by population;   (3) elected at large and nominated by a plan of nomination that may not preclude the possibility of the majority of the electors nominating candidates for the majority of the seats on the commission from persons residing in the district or districts where the majority of the electors reside; or   (4) elected by any combination of districts, in which candidates must reside and which are apportioned by population, and at large.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(3)(a).
MT Code § 7-3-513 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-513. Type of election

  7-3-513. Type of election. Local government elections shall be conducted on a:   (1) partisan basis; or   (2) nonpartisan basis.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(3)(b); amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 79, L. 1983.
MT Code § 7-3-514 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-514. Administrative assistants

  7-3-514. Administrative assistants. The commission presiding officer:   (1) shall appoint one or more administrative assistants to assist in the supervision and operation of the local government, and the administrative assistants are answerable solely to the presiding officer; or   (2) may appoint one or more administrative assistants to assist in the supervision and operation of the local government, and the administrative assistants are answerable solely to the presiding officer.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(3)(c); amd. Sec. 320, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-515 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-515. Terms of commission members

  7-3-515. Terms of commission members. Commission members shall be elected for:   (1) concurrent terms of office; or   (2) overlapping terms of office.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(3)(d).
MT Code § 7-3-516 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-516. Size of commission and community councils

  7-3-516. Size of commission and community councils. The size of the commission, which shall be a number not less than five, shall be established when the form is adopted by the voters, and:   (1) community councils of at least three members shall be elected within each district to advise the commissioner from that district. Local governments conducting elections at large shall district according to population for the purpose of electing community councils; or   (2) community councils to advise commissioners may be authorized by ordinance.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(3)(e).
MT Code § 7-3-517 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 5. Commission-Presiding Officer Government|7-3-517. Terms of elected officials

  7-3-517. Terms of elected officials. The term of office of elected officials may not exceed 4 years and shall be established when the form is adopted by the voters.   History: En. 47A-3-206 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-206(3)(f).
MT Code § 7-3-601 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-601. Town meeting form

  7-3-601. Town meeting form. (1) The town meeting form consists of an assembly of the qualified electors of a town, known as a "town meeting", an elected town presiding officer, who must be a qualified elector, and an optional elected town meeting moderator.   (2) The town meeting form may be adopted only by incorporated cities of less than 2,000 persons and incorporated towns of less than 2,000 persons, as determined by the most recent decennial census as conducted by the United States bureau of the census unless a more recent enumeration of inhabitants is made by the state, in which case that enumeration must be used for the purposes of this part. A unit of local government that adopts this form may retain it even though its population increases to more than 2,000.   (3) All legislative powers of the town vest in the town meeting. The town meeting may enact rules, resolutions, and ordinances.   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(1), (2); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 275, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 321, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-602 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-602. Nature of government

  7-3-602. Nature of government. The plan of government submitted to the qualified electors shall determine the powers of the local government unit by authorizing:   (1) general government powers; or   (2) self-government powers.   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(11).
MT Code § 7-3-603 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-603. Holding of town meeting

  7-3-603. Holding of town meeting. (1) Towns adopting this form shall convene an annual town meeting on the first Tuesday of March. Special town meetings may be called by the town presiding officer or upon petition of 10% of the qualified electors of the town, but not by less than 10 qualified electors.   (2) All qualified electors of the town may attend the town meeting, take part in the discussion, and vote on all matters coming before the town meeting. Others may attend but may not vote or take part in the discussion except by a majority vote of the town meeting.   (3) A quorum consists of at least 10% of the qualified electors of the town, but a higher quorum requirement may be established by a majority vote of the town meeting.   (4) The election of town officials must be nonpartisan and must be by a plurality of those qualified electors present and voting. All other voting in the town meeting must be by a simple majority of those qualified electors present and voting.   (5) Election of officials must be by secret ballot. Other voting must be by secret ballot upon the request of at least five members of the town meeting.   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(3); amd. Sec. 322, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-604 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-604. Meeting agenda

  7-3-604. Meeting agenda. An agenda of the town meeting and a list of all elective and appointive offices to be filled must be prepared by the town presiding officer, who shall publish the notice as provided in 7-1-4127. Upon written petition of at least 10% of the qualified electors of the town but not less than 10 qualified electors, the town presiding officer shall insert a particular item or items in the agenda for the next annual or special town meeting. The town meeting agenda may include an item entitled "other business" under which any matter may be considered by the town meeting, except any matter dealing with finance or taxation may not be considered under "other business".   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(4); amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 354, L. 2001.
MT Code § 7-3-605 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-605. Agenda and conduct of initial town meeting

  7-3-605. Agenda and conduct of initial town meeting. The first agenda of the first town meeting following the adoption of this form must be established by the local study commission. At that town meeting the presiding officer of the local study commission shall preside over the election of the presiding officer of the town, after which the presiding officer of the town shall preside.   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(10); amd. Sec. 323, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-606 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-606. Selection, role, and duties of town presiding officer

  7-3-606. Selection, role, and duties of town presiding officer. (1) The town meeting shall elect a town presiding officer for a term of not less than 1 year or more than 2 years. An unexpired term of a town presiding officer must be filled at the next annual or special town meeting.   (2) The town presiding officer is the chief executive officer of the town and shall:   (a) enforce laws, ordinances, and resolutions;   (b) perform duties required by law, ordinance, or resolution;   (c) administer the affairs of the town;   (d) prepare the town meeting agenda;   (e) attend all annual and special town meetings;   (f) recommend measures to the town meeting;   (g) report to the town on the affairs and financial condition of the town;   (h) execute bonds, notes, contracts, and written obligations of the town, subject to the approval of the town;   (i) appoint, with the consent of the town meeting, members of all boards and appoint and remove all employees of the town;   (j) prepare the budget and present it to the town meeting for adoption;   (k) exercise control and supervision of the administration of all departments and boards; and   (l) carry out policies established by the town meeting.   (3) Compensation of the town presiding officer must be established by ordinance but may not be reduced during the current term of the town presiding officer.   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(5) thru (7); amd. Sec. 324, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-607 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-607. Committees

  7-3-607. Committees. Permanent committees to advise the town presiding officer or the town meeting may be established and dissolved by ordinance. The town presiding officer may establish temporary committees to advise the presiding officer.   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(8); amd. Sec. 325, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-608 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-608. through 7-3-610 reserved

  7-3-608 through 7-3-610 reserved.
MT Code § 7-3-611 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-611. Structural suboptions

  7-3-611. Structural suboptions. The plan of government submitted to the qualified electors shall further define the structural characteristics of the form by including one item from each of the choices listed in 7-3-612 and 7-3-613.   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(part).
MT Code § 7-3-612 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-612. Town meeting moderator

  7-3-612. Town meeting moderator. The town meeting shall:   (1) elect a town meeting moderator for a term of 1 year, who is the presiding officer of all annual and special town meetings but who does not have other governmental powers; or   (2) designate the town presiding officer as presiding officer of all annual and special town meetings.   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(9)(a); amd. Sec. 326, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-613 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 6. Town Meeting Government|7-3-613. Administrative assistant

  7-3-613. Administrative assistant. (1) The town presiding officer:   (a) shall appoint an administrative assistant to assist in the supervision and operation of the affairs of the town; or   (b) may appoint an administrative assistant to assist in the supervision and operation of the affairs of the town.   (2) The administrative assistant is answerable solely to the town presiding officer, and the town presiding officer may delegate powers to the administrative assistant.   History: En. 47A-3-207 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-207(9)(b); amd. Sec. 327, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-701 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 7. Charter Government|7-3-701. Charter form

  7-3-701. Charter form. (1) The purpose of this part is to comply with Article XI, section 5(1), of the Montana constitution, which provides: "The legislature shall provide procedures permitting a local government unit or combination of units to frame, adopt, amend, revise, or abandon a self-government charter with the approval of a majority of those voting on the question. The procedures shall not require approval of a charter by a legislative body."   (2) Charter provisions establishing executive, legislative, and administrative structure and organization are superior to statutory provisions.   History: En. 47A-3-208 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-208(1), (2).
MT Code § 7-3-702 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 7. Charter Government|7-3-702. Nature of government

  7-3-702. Nature of government. A charter form of government shall possess self-government powers.   History: En. 47A-3-208 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-208(3).
MT Code § 7-3-703 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 7. Charter Government|7-3-703. Charter required

  7-3-703. Charter required. (1) Charter form of government shall be established by a charter which is a written document defining the powers, structures, privileges, rights, and duties of the unit of local government and limitations thereon.   (2) The enumeration of powers in a charter shall not be construed as a limitation or prohibition on the residual or self-governing powers granted by the constitution.   History: En. 47A-3-208 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-208(4), (13).
MT Code § 7-3-704 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 7. Charter Government|7-3-704. Legislative body

  7-3-704. Legislative body. (1) The charter shall provide for an elected legislative body (called a commission or council) or shall provide for a legislative body comprised of all qualified electors. For elected legislative bodies, the charter shall specify the number of members thereof, their term of office, election on a partisan or nonpartisan basis, the grounds for their removal, and the method for filling vacancies.   (2) The charter shall provide for the nomination and election of commissions:   (a) at large;   (b) by districts in which candidates must reside and which are apportioned by population;   (c) by a combination of districts, in which candidates must reside and which are apportioned by population, and at large; or   (d) elected at large and nominated by a plan of nomination that may not preclude the possibility of the majority of the electors nominating candidates for the majority of the seats on the commission from persons residing in the district or districts where the majority of the electors reside.   History: En. 47A-3-208 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-208(5), (6).
MT Code § 7-3-705 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 7. Charter Government|7-3-705. Officials and personnel

  7-3-705. Officials and personnel. (1) The charter must specify which official of the local government will be the chief administrative and executive officer, the method of the officer's selection, the term of office (except that it may be at the pleasure of the selecting authority if the officer is not elected by popular vote), the grounds for the officer's removal, and the officer's powers and duties. However, the charter may allocate the chief executive and the chief administrative functions among two or more officials specified as provided in this section, or the charter may provide that chief executive and administrative functions of the local government will be performed by one or more members of the legislative body.   (2) A charter form of government must have the officers, departments, boards, commissions, and agencies that are established in the charter, by local ordinance, or required by state law.   History: En. 47A-3-208 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-208(7), (9); amd. Sec. 328, Ch. 61, L. 2007.
MT Code § 7-3-706 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 7. Charter Government|7-3-706. Effective date

  7-3-706. Effective date. The charter shall specify the date on which the charter will take effect, except that provisions may be made for temporary partial effectiveness consistent with an orderly transition of government.   History: En. 47A-3-208 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-208(16).
MT Code § 7-3-707 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 7. Local Government|Chapter 3. Alternative Forms of Local Government|Part 7. Charter Government|7-3-707. Other charter provisions

  7-3-707. Other charter provisions. (1) The charter may establish other legislative, administrative, and organizational structures.   (2) The charter may contain prohibitions on the exercise of power by a unit of local government.   (3) The charter may include such provisions as may be necessary to permit an orderly transition to the new form of government.   (4) The listing of charter provisions in this part shall not be construed to prevent the inclusion of additional provisions in charters.   History: En. 47A-3-208 by Sec. 1, Ch. 344, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 351, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 47A-3-208(8), (14), (15), (17).