Government

The City of Jacksonville and Duval County merged in 1968, creating a single entity governing all of Duval County with the exception of the beach communities (Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach) and Baldwin. This greatly simplifies the legislative process and ensures Jacksonville's pro-business environment for the long-term. You may find the city's Ordinance Code and the City Charter online by clicking here. 

City government operates under a mayor as head of the administrative branch and the City Council as the legislative branch. There are 19 city council members, 14 elected to represent geographical districts and five elected at large. The mayor and City Council members are elected to four-year terms and are limited by law to two consecutive terms. Seven members are elected to four-year terms to serve as the Duval County School Board.

 The Florida Constitution requires the election of the following officers serving Duval County: Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector. Additionally, the Clerk of Courts, State Attorney and Circuit and County Judges are elected for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.

Mayor Alvin Brown, was elected in 2011. The mayor is responsible for the administration of the central government (organization chart), which includes nine departments. Each department is headed by a director, eight departments have deputy directors, and 37 divisions under the directors and deputy directors are headed by chiefs. The mayor appoints the department directors, deputy directors and division chiefs, and those appointments must be confirmed by the City Council.

The City Council enacts legislation to provide for the needs of the city. The Council has authority over the budgets of the general government and the independent agencies of the city. The Council meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers.

Citizens are encouraged to play an active role in city government. You can obtain a meeting agenda in the Council Secretary's Office at City Hall (Suite 430) on the Friday before a meeting.

Students studying government may also wish to look at the Duval Legislative Delegation website, especially the page entitled Civics 101.

Click here for facts about the City's official logo and flag.