ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter art. III, ch. 2

in effect

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-200 Mayor.

§ 3-200. Mayor. At the municipal election in the year 1951 and in every fourth year thereafter, a Mayor shall be elected. ANNOTATION Sources: Act of June 25, 1919, P.L. 581, Article II, Section 2(a), as amended. Purposes: This section fixes the time of the Mayor's election.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-201 City Controller.

§ 3-201. City Controller. The City Controller shall be elected in the manner and at the times now or hereafter provided by law. ANNOTATION Sources: Act of June 25, 1919, P.L. 581, Article XII, Section 1. Purposes: The City Controller is retained as a special officer to make him independent of the officials whose expenditures he will audit.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-202 City Treasurer.

§ 3-202. City Treasurer. The City Treasurer shall be elected in the manner and at the times provided by law but if and when the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania permit, the City Treasurer shall be appointed by the Director of Finance. ANNOTATION Sources: Act of June 25, 1919, P.L. 581, Article XI, Section 1. Purposes: The City Treasurer is retained as an elected officer for the present. If the Constitution is amended and the laws of the Commonwealth permit, the City Treasurer is to be appointed by the Director of Finance because the Treasurer's functions are primarily ministerial under the Charter. They are necessarily a part of the broader functions and operations of the office of the Director of Finance and the City Treasurer should serve as a part of the Director's organization. Notes 70 | Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on May 17, 2022, and certified on June 6, 2022. See Bill No. 220001 (approved February 25, 2022); Resolution No. 220009 (adopted February 24, 2022).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-203 City Solicitor and Chief Public Safety Director.

§ 3-203. City Solicitor and Chief Public Safety Director. The Mayor, with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of the Council, shall appoint the City Solicitor and the Chief Public Safety Director. ANNOTATION Sources: Act of June 25, 1919, P.L. 581, Article XIII, Section 1. Purposes: The advice and consent of the Council to the appointment by the Mayor of the City Solicitor are required because under the Charter the City Solicitor is to serve as legal advisor to the Council as well as to the Mayor. Notes 71 | Caption and section amended by approval of the voters at the election held on May 16, 2023, and certified on June 5, 2023. See Bill No. 230106 (became law March 23, 2023); Resolution No. 230115-A (adopted March 9, 2023).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-204 Managing Director, Director of Finance, Director of Planning and Development, Director of Commerce, Director of Labor, City Representative and the Director of Aviation.

§ 3-204. Managing Director, Director of Finance, Director of Planning and Development, Director of Commerce, Director of Labor, City Representative and the Director of Aviation. The Mayor shall appoint the Managing Director, the Director of Finance, the Director of Planning and Development, the Director of Commerce, the Director of Labor, the City Representative and the Director of Aviation. The Director of Finance shall be appointed from among three persons whose names are submitted to the Mayor by the Finance Panel. ANNOTATION Sources: No specific source. Purposes: Consistent with the theory of the strong-mayor form of government, the Mayor is given the power to appoint his principal assistants without the advice and consent of the Council. The Finance Director is to be appointed by the Mayor from persons recommended by a Finance Panel because the major powers and duties vested in the Director of Finance and the extreme importance of his office requires that the office be filled by a person of marked competence and experience. The Finance Panel device is intended to help assure especially qualified appointments to this office. Notes 72 | Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on April 22, 2008, and certified on May 19, 2008. See Bill No. 080006 (approved March 6, 2008); Resolution No. 080041 (adopted March 6, 2008). Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 3, 2015, and certified on November 23, 2015. See Bill No. 140721 (approved June 16, 2015); Resolution No. 140732-A (adopted June 11, 2015). See Charter subsection A-200(14) for effective date. Caption and Section amended by approval of the voters at the election held on June 2, 2020, and certified on June 22, 2020. See Bill No. 200008 (approved February 26, 2020); Resolution No. 200042-A (adopted February 13, 2020). See Charter subsection A-200(18) for effective date. Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 8, 2022, and certified on December 4, 2022. See Bill No. 220187 (approved July 6, 2022); Resolution No. 220197-A (adopted June 23, 2022). See Charter subsection A-200(24) for effective date. Caption revised at the discretion of the Code editor to add the Director of Aviation.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-205 Personnel Director.

§ 3-205. Personnel Director. The Civil Service Commission shall appoint the Personnel Director. ANNOTATION Sources: No specific source. Purposes: The Civil Service Commission, rather than the Mayor, has been designated the appointing power of the Personnel Director as a step towards assuring the complete independence of the Personnel Director and the separation of the administration of the civil service system from partisan political considerations and influences, direct or indirect. This is an indispensable requirement of any true merit system of City employment.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-206 Other Department Heads.

§ 3-206. Other Department Heads. With the approval of the Mayor: (a) The Managing Director shall appoint the Police Commissioner, the Health Commissioner, the Fire Commissioner, the Street Commissioner, the Parks and Recreation Commissioner, the Welfare Commissioner, the Water Commissioner, the Commissioner of Public Property, the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections, the Commissioner of Records, the Prisons Commissioner, and the Commissioner of Fleet Services. 73 (b) The Director of Finance shall appoint the Revenue Commissioner and the Procurement Commissioner. ANNOTATION Sources: No specific source. Purposes: Since the Managing Director and the Director of Finance are to be responsible for the supervision and operation of the departments placed under them, they are given the power to appoint, with the approval of the Mayor, the individuals who are to head those departments. The Mayor has a voice in the appointment process because the ultimate responsibility of City administration is his. Notes 73 | Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 4, 2008, and certified on November 28, 2008. See Bill No. 080169 (approved August 4, 2008); Resolution No. 080181 (adopted June 19, 2008). Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 4, 2014, and certified on November 24, 2014. See Bill No. 140015 (approved May 19, 2014); Resolution No. 140035 (adopted May 8, 2014). Amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 2, 2021, and certified on November 22, 2021. See Bill No. 200075 (approved July 15, 2021); Resolution No. 200079 (adopted June 17, 2021). See Charter subsection A-200(19) for effective date.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-207 Members of Boards and Commissions.

§ 3-207. Members of Boards and Commissions. Except as expressly otherwise provided and subject to the limitations contained in this charter, the Mayor shall appoint the members of all boards and commissions. ANNOTATION Sources: The Administrative Code of 1929, Act of April 9, 1929, P.L. 177, Section 207, as amended. Purposes: Consistent with the strong-mayor form of government plan, the Mayor will, as a rule, appoint the members of all boards and commissions. Council's former participation in the administrative process of government through its power to appoint members of boards and commissions has been removed.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-208 Officers of Boards and Commissions.

§ 3-208. Officers of Boards and Commissions. Except as expressly otherwise provided in this charter, the members of boards and commissions shall elect their officers. ANNOTATION Sources: No specific source. Purposes: As a general rule and except for financial administrative purposes, boards and commissions are to be integral agencies and hence are to elect their own officers.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-209 Insurance Public Advocate.

§ 3-209. Insurance Public Advocate. The Mayor, with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of the Council, shall appoint the Insurance Public Advocate. Notes 74 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on November 4, 2003 and certified on December 1, 2003. See Bill No. 030220 (approved May 15, 2003); Resolution No. 030231 (adopted May 1, 2003).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-210 Public School Family and Child Advocate.

§ 3-210. Public School Family and Child Advocate. The Mayor, with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of the Council, shall appoint the Public School Family and Child Advocate. Notes 75 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on November 6, 2007, and certified on November 26, 2007. See Bill No. 070340 (approved September 20, 2007); Resolution No. 070360 (adopted June 14, 2007).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-211 Director of the Office for People with Disabilities.

§ 3-211. Director of the Office for People with Disabilities. The Mayor shall appoint the Director of the Office for People with Disabilities. Notes 76 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on November 6, 2007, and certified on November 26, 2007. See Bill No. 070395 (approved September 20, 2007); Resolution No. 070411 (adopted June 14, 2007). Caption and section amended by approval of the voters at the election held on November 7, 2023, and certified on November 30, 2023. See Bill No. 230411 (approved July 12, 2023); Resolution No. 230430 (adopted June 22, 2023). See Charter subsection A-200(26) for effective date.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-212 Director of Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Affairs.

§ 3-212. Director of Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Affairs. The Mayor shall appoint the Director of the Office of LGBT Affairs. Notes 77 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on November 3, 2015, and certified on November 23, 2015. See Bill No. 150216 (approved June 2, 2015); Resolution No. 150225 (adopted May 14, 2015). See Charter subsection A-200(13) for effective date.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-213 Director of Immigrant Affairs.

§ 3-213. Director of Immigrant Affairs. The Mayor shall appoint the Director of Immigrant Affairs. Notes 78 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 21, 2019, and certified on June 10, 2019. See Bill No. 190007 (approved Feb 27, 2019); Resolution No. 190028 (adopted February 14, 2019). See Charter subsection A-200(16) for effective date.

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-214 Victim Advocate.

§ 3-214. Victim Advocate. The Mayor, with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of the Council, shall appoint the Victim Advocate. Notes 79 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on November 3, 2020, and certified on November 23, 2020. See Bill No. 200208 (approved July 1, 2020); Resolution No. 200216 (adopted June 25, 2020)

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-215 Homeless Services Ombudsperson.

§ 3-215. Homeless Services Ombudsperson. The Mayor, with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of the Council, shall appoint the Homeless Services Ombudsperson. Notes 79.1 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 20, 2025, and certified on June 9, 2025. See Bill No. 240005 (approved June 12, 2024); Resolution No. 240030 (adopted May 30, 2024).

Philadelphia Home Rule Charter § 3-216 Director of Prison Oversight.

§ 3-216. Director of Prison Oversight. The Chief Public Safety Director, with the advice and consent of Council, shall appoint the Director of Prison Oversight from among three persons whose names are submitted by the Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board. _______________ Notes 79.2 | Added by approval of the voters at the election held on May 20, 2025, and certified on June 9, 2025. See Bill No. 240817 (approved February 12, 2025); Resolution No. 240834-A (adopted December 19, 2024) and Resolution No. 250018 (adopted January 30, 2025). Enrolled resolution numbered this as Section 3-215; renumbered by Code editor. See Charter subsection A-200(29) for effective date.

Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-263975Fetched: 10/27/2026