reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 43 § 50 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 50 - City Council; Number; Election; Tenure

Section 50. The legislative powers of the city shall be vested in a city council, consisting of nine persons, elected at large by and from the qualified voters of the city. One of its members shall be elected by the council annually as its president. At the first election held in a city after its adoption of Plan A, except as otherwise provided in this section, the five candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall hold office for two years, and the four receiving the next largest number of votes shall hold office for one year. Thereafter, as these terms expire, there shall be elected at each annual city election a sufficient number of members to fill the vacancies created by the expiration of said terms, each member so elected to serve for two years.  If the plan adopted provides for elections to be held biennially, at the first regular municipal election held under the provisions of such plan and at each biennial election thereafter, there shall be elected nine members of the city council to serve for two years from the first day of January following their election and until their successors are qualified.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 50a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 50a - City Council; Filling Vacancies In

Section 50A. Vacancies in the city council shall be filled by the remaining members thereof for the remainder of the unexpired term.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 52 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 52 - Appointments of Employees by Mayor Without Confirmation

Section 52. Upon the adoption of Plan A, all heads of departments and members of municipal boards, except the school committee, officials appointed by the governor, and assessors if elected by vote of the people, as their terms of office expire, shall be appointed by the mayor without confirmation by the city council.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 53 - Certificate of Appointment

Section 53. In making his appointments the mayor shall sign and file with the city clerk a certificate in the following form:  Certificate of Appointment  I appoint (name of appointee) to the position of (name of office), and I certify that in my opinion he is a recognized expert in the work which will devolve upon him, and that I make the appointment solely in the interest of the city.  Mayor.  or in the following form, as the case may be:  Certificate of Appointment  I appoint (name of appointee) to the position of (name of office), and I certify that in my opinion he is a person specially fitted by education, training or experience to perform the duties of said office, and that I make the appointment solely in the interest of the city.  Mayor.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 54 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 54 - Removal of Officials; Exceptions

Section 54. The mayor may remove the head of a department or member of a board by filing a written statement with the city clerk setting forth in detail the specific reasons therefor, a copy of which shall be delivered or mailed to the person thus removed, who may make a written reply, which, if he desires, may be filed with the city clerk; but such reply shall not affect the action taken unless the mayor so determines. This section shall not apply to the school committee, or to officials appointed by the governor, or to assessors if elected by the people.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 55 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 55 - Approval or Veto by Mayor of Orders, Ordinances, etc.; Overriding Veto

Section 55. Every order, ordinance, resolution and vote relative to the affairs of the city, adopted or passed by the city council, shall be presented to the mayor for his approval. If he approves it he shall sign it; if he disapproves it he shall return it, with his written objections, to the city council, which shall enter the objections at large on its records, and again consider it. If the city council, notwithstanding such disapproval of the mayor, shall again pass such order, ordinance, resolution or vote by a two thirds vote of all its members, it shall then be in force, but such vote shall not be taken for seven days after its return to the city council. Every such order, ordinance, resolution and vote shall be in force if not returned by the mayor within ten days after it has been presented to him. This section shall not apply to budgets submitted under section thirty-two of chapter forty-four or to appropriations by a city council under section thirty-three of said chapter.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 56 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 56 - Plan B

Section 56. The method of city government provided for in the eight following sections shall be known as Plan B.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 57 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 57 - Operative Date of Plan

Section 57. Upon the adoption by a city of Plan B, it shall become operative as provided in sections one to forty-five, inclusive.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 58 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 58 - Mayor as Chief Executive Officer; Election; Tenure

Section 58. There shall be a mayor, elected by and from the qualified voters of the city, who shall be the chief executive officer of the city. He shall hold office for the term of two years from the first Monday in January following his election and until his successor is qualified.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 59 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 59 - City Council; Number; Election; Tenure

Section 59. The legislative powers of the city shall be vested in a city council. One of its members shall be elected by the council annually as its president. In cities having more than seven wards, the city council shall be composed of fifteen members, of whom one shall be elected from each ward by and from the qualified voters of that ward, and the remaining members shall be elected by and from the qualified voters of the city. In cities having seven wards or less, the city council shall be composed of eleven members, of whom one shall be elected from each ward by and from the qualified voters of that ward, and the remaining members shall be elected by and from the qualified voters of the city.  At the first regular municipal election held in a city after its adoption of Plan B, except as otherwise provided in this section, the councillors elected from each ward shall be elected to serve for one year, and those elected at large shall be elected to serve for two years, from the first Monday in January following their election and until their successors are qualified; and at each regular municipal election thereafter the councillors elected to fill vacancies caused by the expiration of the terms of councillors shall be elected to serve for two years.  If the plan adopted provides for elections to be held biennially, at the first regular municipal election held under the provisions of such plan and at each biennial election thereafter, all the councillors whether elected at large or by wards shall be elected to serve for two years from the first day of January following their election and until their successors are qualified.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 59a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 59a - Vacancies in Office of Mayor and Council; Procedure for Filling

Section 59A. If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor by death, removal or resignation at any time during the first year of the term ending December thirty-first, the city clerk shall forthwith order an election to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.  If a vacancy occurs during the second year of the term beginning January first, a meeting of the city council shall be called by the city clerk and the city council shall elect by majority vote one of its members as mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the city council fails so to elect at said meeting or within thirty days thereafter, the president of the city council shall become acting mayor, shall exercise all the rights and powers of mayor and shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties.  If a vacancy occurs at any time in the office of a councillor elected by and from the qualified voters of the city, such vacancy shall be filled forthwith by a majority vote of all the remaining members of the city council for the remainder of the unexpired term.  If a vacancy occurs, before the last six months of the term, in the office of a councillor elected by and from the voters of a ward, the city council shall forthwith order an election to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 60 - Appointments by Mayor Subject to Confirmation; Exceptions

Section 60. Upon the adoption of Plan B, all heads of departments and members of municipal boards, except the school committee, officials appointed by the governor, and assessors if elected by the people, as their terms of office expire, shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the city council; but the city solicitor shall be appointed, and may be removed, by the mayor, without confirmation by the city council. This section shall apply to the city solicitor in office when Plan B becomes operative.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 61 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 61 - Removals

Section 61. The mayor may, with the approval of a majority of the members of the city council, remove the head of a department or member of a board before the expiration of his term of office, except members of the school committee, officials appointed by the governor, and assessors if elected by the people. The person so removed shall receive a copy of the reasons for his removal, and he may, if he desires, contest the same before the city council. He may be represented by counsel at the hearing.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 63 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 63 - Approval and Veto Offer of Mayor

Section 63. Section fifty-five shall apply to cities which adopt Plan B.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 64 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 64 - Plan C

Section 64. The method of city government provided for in the fourteen following sections shall be known as Plan C.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 65 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 65 - Effective Date of Plan Adopted

Section 65. Upon the adoption by a city of Plan C, it shall become operative as provided in sections one to forty-five, inclusive.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 66 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 66 - City Council; Powers and Duties

Section 66. The government of the city and the general management and control of all of its affairs shall be vested in a city council, which shall be elected and shall exercise its powers in the manner hereinafter set forth; except that the general management and control of the public schools of the city and of the property pertaining thereto shall be vested in the school committee.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 67 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 67 - Membership; Duties of Individual Commissioners; Tenure

Section 67. The city council shall consist of the following five members: a mayor, who shall be the commissioner of administration; a commissioner of finance; a commissioner of health; a commissioner of public works and a commissioner of public property. Each commissioner shall have charge of the department of city affairs indicated by his official title, except as to the affairs and property of the city which are within the jurisdiction of the school committee. All of these officers shall be elected by and from the qualified voters of the whole city for terms of two years, except as hereinafter provided.  In case of a difference of opinion as to the departments to be in charge of any one or more of the commissioners, the matter shall be determined by vote of a majority of all the commissioners.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 68 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 68 - Terms of Office

Section 68. The terms of office of the members of the council shall commence at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the first Monday in January following their election and shall be for two years each, and until their successors are qualified; provided, that, if the plan adopted provides for elections to be held annually, the terms of office of the commissioner of administration, of the commissioner of finance and of the commissioner of health elected at the first regular election held under such plan shall be for two years, and the terms of office of the commissioner of public works and of the commissioner of public property so elected shall be for one year.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 69 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 69 - Organization; Oath of Office

Section 69. The city council elected as aforesaid shall meet at ten o'clock in the forenoon on the first Monday of January in each year, and the members of the city council whose terms of office then begin shall severally make oath, before the city clerk or a justice of the peace, to perform faithfully the duties of their respective offices. The city council shall thereupon be organized by the choice of a president, who shall hold his office during the pleasure of the city council. The president of the city council shall be any member thereof, except the mayor. The organization of the city council shall take place as aforesaid, notwithstanding the absence, death, refusal to serve, or non-election of the mayor or of one or more of the four other members; provided, that at least three of the persons entitled to be members of the city council are present and make oath as aforesaid. Any member-elect, not present at the time fixed therefor, may make oath at any time thereafter.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 70 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 70 - Meetings

Section 70. The city council shall fix suitable times for regular meetings. The mayor, the president of the city council or any two members thereof may at any time call a special meeting by causing a written notice, stating the time of holding such meeting and signed by the person calling the same, to be delivered in hand to each member, or left at his usual dwelling place, at least six hours before the time of such meeting. Meetings of the city council may also be held at any time when all the members of the council are present and consent thereto.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 71 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 71 - Quorum; Open and Public Meetings; Duties of City Clerk; Method of Voting

Section 71. A majority of the members of the city council shall constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise authorized by section twenty-three A of chapter thirty-nine, all meetings of the city council shall be public; and the mayor, if present, shall preside and may vote. In the absence of the mayor the president of the city council shall preside, and in the absence of both, a temporary chairman shall be chosen. The city clerk shall be, ex officio, clerk of the city council, and shall keep records of its proceedings; but in case of his temporary absence, or of a vacancy in the office, the city council may elect by ballot a temporary clerk, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties and may act as clerk of the city council until a city clerk is qualified. All final votes of the city council involving the expenditure of fifty dollars or more shall be by yeas and nays and be entered upon the records. On the request of one member any vote shall be by yeas and nays and be entered upon the records. The affirmative vote of at least three members shall be necessary for the passage of any order, ordinance, resolution or vote.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 72 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 72 - Powers and Duties

Section 72. The city council shall have and exercise all the legislative powers of the city, except as such powers are reserved to the school committee and to the qualified voters of the city herein and in sections one to forty-five, inclusive, and the city council and its members shall, severally or collectively, have and possess, and shall themselves or through such officers as they may elect or appoint, exercise all the other powers, rights and duties had, possessed or exercised, immediately prior to the adoption of this plan, by the mayor, board of aldermen, common council, and all other boards, commissions and committees of the city and their members, severally or collectively, except such as are in sections one to forty-five, inclusive, conferred upon the school committee, or are otherwise provided for in sections sixty-four to seventy-eight, inclusive.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 73 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 73 - Methods of Action; Itemization of Appropriations

Section 73. In legislative session, the city council shall act by ordinance, resolution, order or vote.  The yeas and nays shall be taken upon the passage of all ordinances and resolutions, and entered upon the journal of its proceedings. Upon request of any member, the yeas and nays shall be taken and recorded upon any order or vote. Every ordinance, resolution, order or vote passed by the city council shall, except as is hereinafter provided, require on final passage the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the city council.  All votes making appropriations of money or authorizing loans shall be in itemized form.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 74 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 74 - Mayor; Status; Powers and Duties; Acting Mayor

Section 74. The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the city, commissioner of administration and, ex officio, chairman of the school committee. When present, he shall preside at all meetings of the city council and of the school committee and at all joint conventions thereof.  He may vote on all questions coming before the city council, but shall have no power of veto.  He shall have such other duties, rights and powers as may be provided by ordinance, not in conflict with this chapter.  During the absence or inability of the mayor to act, the commissioner of finance shall, as acting mayor, assume the duties and exercise all the rights and powers of the mayor. In the absence or inability so to act of the commissioner of finance the city council may select another commissioner from their number to perform the duties of acting mayor.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 75 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 75 - Distribution of Executive Powers; Determination of Policies

Section 75. All executive and administrative powers, authorities and duties, not otherwise provided for in this chapter, shall be assigned to a suitable department by the city council by ordinance, and changes in the assignments may be made by ordinance by the affirmative vote of three members of the city council, or by the qualified voters of the city upon initiative petition.  The city council shall determine the policies to be pursued and the work to be undertaken in each department, but each commissioner shall have full power to carry out the policies or to have the work performed in his department as directed by the city council.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 76 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 76 - Appointment and Removal of Department Heads

Section 76. Each commissioner may, except as is otherwise provided herein, appoint a qualified person to serve as the head of each of the departments under his charge and may remove him for cause stated in the order of removal. All appointments and removals so made shall be subject to confirmation by the city council. The employees in each department shall be appointed and removed by the head of that department. This section shall not affect the laws governing the civil service.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 77 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 77 - Department Records; Publication of Reports

Section 77. Each of said commissioners shall keep a record book in which shall be recorded a brief but clear and comprehensive record of all affairs of the department under his charge as soon as performed, and shall quarterly render to the city council a full report of all operations of his department, and shall annually, and oftener if required by the city council, make a synopsis thereof for publication. All such records shall be open to public inspection. The city council shall provide for the publication of such annual or other reports, and of such parts of the quarterly reports, or of such other information regarding city affairs as it may deem advisable.
MA Gen L ch 43 § 79 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 43 - City Charters|Section 79 - Plan D; Effective Date

Section 79. The method of city government provided for in the following fourteen sections shall be known as Plan D. Upon the adoption by a city of Plan D, it shall become operative as provided in sections one to forty-five, inclusive, except as otherwise provided by the following sections.