The Kobe City Assembly：The Kobe City Assembly Guide to the Kobe City Assembly

THE ROLE OF THE CITY ASSEMBLY

The Kobe City Government is responsible for civil services which are closely related to Kobe citizens' daily lives, such as welfare, medical services, education, city planning, transportation, water supply and the sewerage system.
In order to reflect the citizens' opinions in the city administration, the city assembly and the Mayor, both elected by the citizens, play leading roles in running the city government, cooperating to achieve a better administration.
Decision making on the city's major policies is the principal task of the city assembly, and the implementation and supervision of the municipal administration is the task of the Mayor.
In addition to the decision making tasks, the city assembly actively performs other important functions, such as monitoring the city administration's operations.

MAIN DUTIES OF THE CITY ASSEMBLY

RESOLUTION

Enactment, revision and repeal of ordinances; determination of budget; approval of the settlement of accounts; voting on important contracts.

EXAMINATION

To inspect documents and accounts related to city affairs.

INVESTIGATION

To investigate city affairs independently for the purpose of comprehending the actual conditions, if necessary.

ACCEPTANCE

To accept appeals and petitions from the citizens.

SUBMISSION OF OPINION

To submit opinions to the National Government concerning matters related to public welfare.
(Besides the above duties, the Assembly also has suffrage rights and the right to petition for audit.)

ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY ASSEMBLY

The city assembly consists of assembly members elected by the citizens. It functions through the Plenary Session, Standing Committees, Temporary Committees and so forth.

ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

The assembly members participate in the city administration as representatives of the citizens.
The number of Kobe City assembly members is 65, and by national law, their term is four years.

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

The president represents and leads the assembly. The vice president assists and substitutes for the president when he/she is absent.

FACTIONS

Assembly members having the same political ideas and assertions organize factions.

PLENARY SESSION

The plenary session, consisting of all assembly members, decides fundamental matters of the city administration. This is called the decision making process of the city government and the city assembly is called a "legislative organ".

COMMITTEES

For the more efficient operation of each session, committees with fewer assembly members are held beforehand to research matters from expert perspectives.
There are standing committees and temporary committees to be set up whenever necessary.

COMMITTEES

STANDING COMMITTEES

TEMPORARY COMMITTEES

THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY ASSEMBLY

The city assembly consists of Regular Sessions held four times a year, and Extraordinary Sessions held whenever necessary. Both sessions are held during fixed periods, and in principle, the plenary session and committees are held during these periods.
However, committees may be held even when the session is closed, in order to investigate important matters or appeals, and to make study tours to municipal areas and outside regions.

OUTLINE OF A SESSION

THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SESSION

The Principle of Open Session

The assembly is open to the public when in session so that the citizens can see how the assembly is operating.

The Principle of Quorum

In order to open the session and vote, more than a certain number of the assembly members have to be present. Except in special cases, the quorum is more than half the members.

The Principle of Majority Vote

The proceedings are decided when more than half of the present assembly members vote yes or no on a given issue.

The Principle of Non-reconsideration

Once the proposal is decided in the assembly, the same proposal is not allowed to be discussed again during the same session.

The Principle of Non-continuance

The assembly is independent for each session, and proposals undecided during the session are cancelled as the session closes.

SECRETARIAT TO THE CITY ASSEMBLY

To assist the assembly and the assembly members, the city assembly has a secretariat.
The secretariat to the city assembly supports the steering session and committees, and also collects data and investigates matters necessary for assembly activities.

THE CITIZENS OF KOBE AND THE CITY ASSEMBLY

Petitions and Appeals

The citizens can present petitions and appeals to the city assembly. An assembly member's introduction is necessary for the petition.
The citizens can also state the gist of the petition or the appeal orally at the committee.
When the petition or the appeal is adopted, it is sent to the mayor for implementation.

Visiting

The citizens can visit not only the plenary session but also the standing committees and temporary committees.
The reception desk for visitors opens one hour before the session.

Assembly Newsletter

When the regular session is over, the Assembly Newsletter is delivered to all households. This newsletter is also available in braille or on audio tape.

The City Assembly Library

This library is available to support assembly members' study and research.
It is open to the public as well.

Perusal of The Record of Assembly

The Record of Assembly and the City Assembly Review, which summarize the contents of the assembly and committee meetings respectively, are offered for public perusal at the Central Library and the City Assembly Library.

WARDS AND DESIGNATED NUMBERS OF MEMBERS

Higashinada Ward	Nada Ward	Chuo Ward	Hyogo Ward	Kita Ward	Nagata Ward	Suma Ward	Tarumi Ward	Nishi Ward	Total
9	6	6	5	9	4	7	9	10	65