The council manages the smallest French territorial community with legal and financial autonomy, the commune.
[4] The law of November 1982, which is part of a package of reforms being made by the Law of 31 December 1982 relating to the administrative organization of Paris, Marseille, Lyon and public establishments for cooperation (PLM Act) on the specific case of the three biggest cities of France, changed the composition of municipal councils, maintaining the same segments of the population, from 9 to 49 members.
The votes are recorded individually, and panachage is allowed: Voters have the right to change the ballot by selecting candidates from various lists.
The council members are elected using proportional representation with two rounds,[16] with the winning list getting additional seats.
A municipal council may be composed of representatives from one list: The three largest cities in France – Paris, Marseilles and Lyon – are divided into electoral areas, corresponding to an arrondissement in Paris and Lyon, or formed by combining two arrondissements in the same area for Marseilles.
The council is empowered to make all decisions regarding communal management,[21] except where the law specifically supports the mayor or other administrative authority.
The council votes on the municipal budget, prepared by the mayor and his deputies, and local tax rates, creates and removes the jobs of municipal officials, allows acquisitions and disposals of the commune,[22] approves loans and grants for the town, fixed tariffs for communal services and parking on the street.
The council adopts the local development plans, establishes primary and nursery schools.
The town owns public domain property (schools, municipal roads, gardens, etc.)
The mayor will call the council to order whenever he considers it necessary and also to build the democratic legitimacy of this assembly elected by direct universal suffrage.
In light of this city council members may, if they think that they information, request submission of additional documents.
Quorum rules are respected: there must be a minimum number of representatives to be present in order for a decision to be valid.
The first municipal youth councils in France were created between 1963 and 1967 (including Sedan and a score of other medium-sized cities).
These spaces are advisory (its deliberations carry no regulatory power if they are not approved by resolution of the elected council or mayor), but also allows young people to act for their country and take action .