According to the Italian Constitution, the Mayor of Bologna is a member of the City Council.

The Mayor is elected by the population of Bologna, who also elects the members of the City Council, the legislative body which checks the Mayor's policy guidelines and is able to enforce his resignation by a motion of no confidence.

The Mayor is entitled to appoint and release the members of his executive.

Since 1993 the Mayor is elected directly by Bologna's electorate: in all mayoral elections in Italy in cities with a population higher than 15,000 voters express a direct choice for the mayor or an indirect choice voting for the party of the candidate's coalition.

The number of the seats for each party is determined proportionally on the base of a majority bonus system.