Opinion ID: 2631894
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Local government and the mayoral veto

Text: The Alaska Constitution vests all local government powers in boroughs and cities. [10] It authorizes the voters of a first class city or borough to adopt a home rule charter [11] and provides that [a] home rule borough or city may exercise all legislative powers not prohibited by law or by charter. [12] Title 29 of the Alaska Statutes delineates both the powers and structures of local governments. The Municipality of Anchorage is a home rule municipality. [13] It was incorporated as a unified municipality in September 1975, when voters adopted by referendum its constitutional document, the Home Rule Charter for the Municipality of Anchorage. [14] Its executive and administrative power is vested in the mayor. [15] Its legislative power is vested in the assembly. [16] Since 1990 subsection 5.02(c) of the charter has expressly granted the mayor both a general and a line item veto power. [17] As we will see, it is important to the outcome of these cases that Anchorage is a home rule municipality.