Sec. 5. Election of president—vice-president, duties of.
The Council shall, at its first meeting in September after the
regular biennial election of councilmen, or as soon thereafter
as practicable, elect one of its members president, who shall
continue in office two years. If a vacancy occur in the office
before the end of the term, such vacancy shall be filled as provided
by section 11. The president of the Council shall be the
Mayor of the City, without veto power.
At the same time the Council shall elect one of its members
to be vice-president, who shall continue in office two years. If
a vacancy occur in the office before the end of his term such
vacancy shall be filled as provided by section 11.
The president shall preside at the meetings of the Council,
and when from any cause, he shall be absent the vice-president
shall preside and in the absence of both a president pro tempore
may be elected.
The president, vice-president, or president pro tempore, who
shall preside when the proceedings of the previous meeting are
read shall sign the same.
He may call any member to the chair, who shall exercise its
functions for the time; and during such substitution he may
participate in the debates.
The vice-president in the absence of the president and while
acting as president shall be vested with all the rights and duties
of the president.
The president or vice-president, as the case may be, shall be
entitled to vote on all questions as any other member, but in no
case shall he be entitled to a second vote on any question, though
it be necessary to break a tie—that is to say, his office shall not
entitle him to a vote.
