Every ordinance shall, before it takes effect, be certified to the Mayor for his approval. The Mayor shall sign the ordinance if he approves it, whereupon it shall become law. If he disapproves it, he shall return it to the Council with the reasons for his disapproval at the first meeting thereof held not less than ten days after he receives it. If the Council shall pass the bill by a vote of two-thirds of all of its members within seven days after the bill has been returned with the Mayor's disapproval, it shall become law without his approval. If the Mayor does not return the ordinance within the time required, it shall become law without his approval. The Mayor may disapprove or reduce any item or items of any ordinance making appropriations, except the items in the annual operating budget ordinance making appropriations (a) to the Auditing Department for the compensation of auditors regularly employed by it and (b) for the work of the Personnel Director and the Civil Service Commission, which shall become law if any part of the ordinance is approved. Subject only to the foregoing exceptions, the approved part or parts of any ordinance making an appropriation shall become law, and the part or parts disapproved shall not become law unless passed by the Council over the Mayor's veto as provided herein.

ANNOTATION

Sources: Act of June 25, 1919, P.L. 581, Article XVI, Section 6.

Purposes: 1. The approval or inaction of the Mayor is required before any ordinance enacted by the Council may become law. The Council may override a veto by the Mayor, as at present, but a vote of two-thirds of its members is required. Unless the Mayor returns an ordinance with his veto, the ordinance becomes law without his approval.

2. The Mayor is given the power to veto items in appropriation ordinances so that he will not be forced to accept appropriation items, which he deems unwise, because they are tied in with other necessary appropriation items. He may not veto item appropriations to the Auditing Department for its auditors or to the Personnel Director in accordance with the requirement elsewhere in the Charter (Section 2-300) for assuring funds for their work.