Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 731 | Organization
Section 731.03 | Election and Term of Members of Legislative Authority.

Effective: July 2, 2010
Latest Legislation: House Bill 48 - 128th General Assembly
(A) Except as otherwise provided in division (B) of this section, one member of the legislative authority of a city from each ward and such number of members thereof at large as is provided by section 731.01 of the Revised Code shall be chosen in each odd-numbered year. Members shall serve for a term of two years commencing on the first day of January next after their election.
(B) A city legislative authority may, by majority vote, adopt a resolution causing the board of elections to submit to the city electors the question of whether the terms of office of the members of the legislative authority should be changed from two to four years. The question may also ask whether the legislative authority should be authorized to establish staggered four-year terms of office among members of the legislative authority by fixing certain terms of office at two years for one term of office but then at four years thereafter. If the resolution calls for submission of the question about staggered terms, the resolution shall specify the number of members to be elected for four-year terms and the number to be elected for two-year terms at the next election for such members. The resolution shall also specify how many of those members elected to four-year terms and how many of those members elected to two-year terms shall be elected from the city at large, and how many from wards. If staggered terms of office are established, the legislative authority shall fix the length of the terms of office prior to the last day fixed by law for filing as a candidate for such office. The question shall be voted upon at the next general election occurring not less than ninety days after the certification of the resolution to the board of elections. If a majority of the votes cast on the question is in the affirmative, the terms of office of the members of the legislative authority shall be four years effective on the first day of January following the next regular municipal election, except as may otherwise be provided by the legislative authority to establish staggered terms of office among members of the legislative authority.
A city legislative authority whose members' terms of office are four years may, by a majority vote, adopt a resolution establishing staggered four-year terms of office among members of the legislative authority by fixing certain terms of office at two years for one term of office but then at four years thereafter. The resolution shall specify the number of members to be elected for four-year terms and the number to be elected for two-year terms, and shall specify how many of those members elected to four-year terms and how many of those members elected to two-year terms shall be elected from the city at large, and how many from wards. If staggered terms of office are established, the legislative authority shall fix the length of the terms of office prior to the last day fixed by law for filing as a candidate for such office.
A city legislative authority whose members' terms of office are four years may, by majority vote, adopt a resolution causing the board of elections to submit to the city electors the question of whether the members' terms should be changed back from four to two years. The question shall be voted upon at the next general election occurring not less than ninety days after the certification of the resolution to the board of elections. If a majority of the votes cast on the question is in the affirmative, the terms of office of the members of the legislative authority shall be two years effective on the first day of January following the next regular municipal election.

Structure Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Revised Code

Title 7 | Municipal Corporations

Chapter 731 | Organization

Section 731.01 | Members of Legislative Authority.

Section 731.02 | Qualifications of Members of Legislative Authority.

Section 731.03 | Election and Term of Members of Legislative Authority.

Section 731.04 | Officers of Legislative Authority.

Section 731.05 | Powers of Legislative Authority.

Section 731.06 | Division of City Into Wards.

Section 731.07 | Salaries Shall Not Be Changed During Term.

Section 731.08 | Power of Legislative Authority as to Salaries and Bonds.

Section 731.09 | Members of Village Legislative Authority - Election - Terms of Office.

Section 731.091 | Elimination of Staggered Terms of Office.

Section 731.10 | President Pro Tempore of the Legislative Authority - Employees.

Section 731.11 | Vacancy When President Pro Tempore Becomes Mayor.

Section 731.12 | Qualifications of Members of Village Legislative Authority.

Section 731.13 | Compensation and Bonds of Village Officers, Clerks and Employees.

Section 731.14 | Contracts by Legislative Authority of a Village - Exception.

Section 731.141 | Village Administrator to Make Contracts and Purchases.

Section 731.15 | Bids and Proceedings.

Section 731.16 | Alterations or Modifications of Contracts.

Section 731.17 | Passage of Ordinances and Resolutions.

Section 731.18 | Style of Ordinances.

Section 731.19 | Subject and Amendment of Bylaws, Ordinances, and Resolutions.

Section 731.20 | Authentication and Recording.

Section 731.21 | Publication of Ordinances and Resolutions.

Section 731.211 | Method of Giving Notice of Proposed Charter Amendments.

Section 731.22 | Times of Publication Required.

Section 731.23 | Publication and Certification of Ordinances in Book Form.

Section 731.231 | Adopting Standard or Technical Ordinances and Codes.

Section 731.24 | Certificate of Clerk as to Publication.

Section 731.25 | Publication When No Newspaper in Municipal Corporation.

Section 731.26 | Effect of Not Making Publication.

Section 731.27 | Mayor's Veto in Cities.

Section 731.28 | Ordinances and Measures Proposed by Initiative Petition.

Section 731.29 | Petition for Referendum.

Section 731.30 | Application of Sections.

Section 731.31 | Presentation of Petition.

Section 731.32 | Copy of Proposed Ordinance or Measure Filed With Auditor or Clerk.

Section 731.33 | Words Which Shall Be Printed in Red.

Section 731.34 | Designation of Committee Filing Petition.

Section 731.35 | Itemized Statement by Circulator of Petition.

Section 731.36 | Prohibited Practices Relative to Petitions.

Section 731.38 | Prohibition Against Accepting Premium for Signing.

Section 731.40 | Prohibition Against Threats in Securing Signatures.

Section 731.41 | Charter Municipal Corporations.

Section 731.42 | Bylaws and Ordinances as Evidence.

Section 731.43 | Vacancy in Village Legislative Authority.

Section 731.44 | Judge of Election and Qualification of Members - Quorum and Special Meetings.

Section 731.45 | Rules - Journal - Expulsion of Members.

Section 731.46 | Meetings of Legislative Authority.

Section 731.47 | General Powers.

Section 731.48 | Contract Restrictions.

Section 731.49 | Failure to Take Oath or Give Bond.

Section 731.50 | Notice When New Bond Required.

Section 731.51 | Notice to Owner to Cut Noxious Weeds or Remove Litter - Service.

Section 731.52 | Fees for Service and Return.

Section 731.53 | Procedure When Owner Fails to Comply With Notice.

Section 731.54 | Written Return to County Auditor - Amount a Lien Upon Property.

Section 731.55 | Insurance for City Funds or Securities - Costs.

Section 731.56 | Investment of City Funds.

Section 731.57 | Investment Authorized - Limitations - Procedure.

Section 731.58 | Treasury Investment Account.

Section 731.59 | Custody of Municipal Securities.

Section 731.99 | Penalty.