Missouri Revised Statutes Title VII. Cities, Towns and Villages § 78.560. Organization of city council

1. The city council shall at the time of organizing elect one of its members as mayor and another as chairman pro tem for a term of one year. In case the members of the city council, within five days after the time herein fixed for their organization meeting, are unable to agree upon a mayor or a chairman pro tem, of such council, then a mayor or chairman pro tem, or both, as the occasion may require, shall be selected from all the members of such council by lot and a record thereof shall be made upon the journal of the council.

2. The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the council and perform such other duties consistent with his office as may be imposed by it; and he shall have a voice and vote in its proceedings, but no veto.

3. The mayor shall be recognized as the official head of the city by the courts for the purpose of serving civil process, by the governor for the purpose of military law, and for all ceremonial purposes. The powers and duties of the mayor shall be such as are conferred upon him by sections 78.430 to 78.640, and no others.

4. If the mayor be temporarily absent from the city, or become temporarily disabled from any cause, his duties shall be performed during such absence or disability by the chairman pro tem. In the absence of both the mayor and chairman pro tem the other members of the city council shall select one of their number to perform the duties of mayor.