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RELEVANT LINKS: <br />League of Minnesota Cities Handbook for Minnesota Cities 6/8/2022 <br />Elected Officials and Council Structure and Role Chapter 6 | Page 17 <br />Minn. Stat. § 306.41. <br />Reed v. City of Anoka, 85 <br />Minn. 294, 88 N.W. 981 <br />(1902). Ketterer v. Indep. <br />Sch. Dist. No. 1, 248 Minn. <br />212, 79 N.W. 2d 428 (1956). <br />There are exceptions to this rule. For example, the council cannot dissolve <br />a perpetual cemetery-maintenance fund. In addition, the council cannot <br />rescind or unilaterally alter any valid contracts. This means the law of <br />contracts applies to the council as it does to any other party. Whether a <br />contract was validly made is a question of fact. <br /> The following information outlines the major areas of council authority <br />and responsibility. <br /> 1. Judging the qualification and election of its own <br />members <br />Minn. Stat. § 412.191, subd. <br />2. The council evaluates the credentials of individuals who are, or who claim <br />to be, members of the council. This power includes certifying election <br />results, determining whether an individual has the necessary qualifications <br />to hold office, and deciding whether a council vacancy exists. <br /> 2. Setting and interpreting rules governing its own <br />proceedings <br />Minn. Stat. § 412.191, subd. <br />2. The council has the following powers: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />See Minn. Stat. § 43A.17, <br />subd. 10 (prohibiting the <br />reduction of council <br />members’ salaries because of <br />absences from official duties <br />because of vacation or <br />sickness). <br />• To preserve order during its own meetings. <br />• To establish rules of procedure. <br />• To compel the attendance of members at meetings and to punish <br />non-attendance. The council does not have the power to remove <br />members from office, but it may punish members by fines or by <br />deducting a part of the absentee’s compensation for failure to comply <br />with attendance orders. <br /> 3. Exercising all the powers of cities that the law <br />does not delegate to others <br /> Except for powers that the statutes delegate to a specific official or <br />independent board or commission, the council has the authority to exercise <br />all powers given to the city. <br /> 4. Legislating for the city <br />Minn. Stat. § 412.191, subd. <br />4. The council may enact ordinances by a majority vote of all its members <br />except where a larger number is required by law. The power to legislate <br />also includes setting administrative policies and otherwise establishing <br />public policy for the city. <br />20