(a) The Chairman shall be the presiding officer of the Council.
(b) When the Office of Mayor is vacant, the Chairman shall act in his stead. While the Chairman is Acting Mayor he shall not exercise any of his authority as Chairman or member of the Council.
(Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 788, Pub. L. 93-198, title IV, § 411.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 1-228.
1973 Ed., § 1-145.
(a) The Council, to discharge the powers and duties imposed herein, shall pass acts and adopt resolutions, upon a vote of a majority of the members of the Council present and voting, unless otherwise provided in this chapter or by the Council. Except as provided in the last sentence of this subsection, the Council shall use acts for all legislative purposes. Each proposed act (other than an act to which § 1-204.46 applies) shall be read twice in substantially the same form, with at least 13 days intervening between each reading. Upon final adoption by the Council each act shall be made immediately available to the public in a manner which the Council shall determine. If the Council determines, by a vote of two-thirds of the members, that emergency circumstances make it necessary that an act be passed after a single reading, or that it take effect immediately upon enactment, such act shall be effective for a period of not to exceed 90 days. Resolutions shall be used (1) to express simple determinations, decisions, or directions of the Council of a special or temporary character; and (2) to approve or disapprove proposed actions of a kind historically or traditionally transmitted by the Mayor, the Board of Elections, Public Service Commission, Armory Board, Board of Education, the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia, or the Convention Center Board of Directors to the Council pursuant to an act. Such resolutions must be specifically authorized by that act and must be designed to implement that act.
(b) A special election may be called by resolution of the Council to present for an advisory referendum vote of the people any proposition upon which the Council desires to take action.
(c) A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the lawful convening of any meeting and for the transaction of business of the Council, except a lesser number may hold hearings.
(Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 788, Pub. L. 93-198, title IV, § 412; Oct. 27, 1978, 92 Stat. 2023, Pub. L. 95-526; Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1974, Pub. L. 98-473, § 131(c).)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 1-229.
1973 Ed., § 1-146.
Legislative History of Laws
Law 8-11 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-179. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on April 4, 1989 and April 18, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on April 27, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-27 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 8-13 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-238. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on April 4, 1989 and April 18, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on April 27, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-29 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 8-85 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-469. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 14, 1989, and December 5, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 21, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-135 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Resolutions
Resolution 14-494, the "Establishment of an Office of the District Attorney Advisory Referendum Approval Resolution of 2002", was approved effective July 19, 2002.
Miscellaneous Notes
Temporary legislation: Pursuant to (a), the Council often adopts temporary legislation in conjunction with emergency legislation which takes effect after a period of Congressional review following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council of the District of Columbia to override the veto), as provided in § 1-206.02(c). Such legislation carries an expiration provision limiting its application, usually, to 225 days. Amendatory temporary legislation is treated under the code section affected; following this, it is listed in the D.C. Laws Not Codified table found in the Tables Volume.
Emergency legislation: Pursuant to (a), the Council adopts emergency legislation which takes effect upon its enactment (approval by the Mayor, or in the event of veto by the Mayor, override of the veto by the Council) and which remain in effect for no longer than 90 days. Amendatory emergency acts are treated under the Code section affected; otherwise the act is listed in the Emergency Act Table found in the Tables Volume.
Fiscal year: See Historical and Statutory Notes following § 1-203.03.
(a) The Council, or any committee or person authorized by it, shall have power to investigate any matter relating to the affairs of the District, and for that purpose may require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and other evidence. For such purpose any member of the Council (if the Council is conducting the inquiry) or any member of the committee may issue subpoenas, and administer oaths upon resolution adopted by the Council or committee, as appropriate.
(b) In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the Council by resolution may refer the matter to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, which may by order require such person to appear and give or produce testimony or books, papers, or other evidence, bearing upon the matter under investigation. Any failure to obey such order may be punished by such Court as a contempt thereof as in the case of failure to obey a subpoena issued, or to testify, in a case pending before such Court.
(Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 789, Pub. L. 93-198, title IV, § 413.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 1-234.
1973 Ed., § 1-148.
