Foreword The Municipal Association of South Carolina is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit association representing the incorporated municipalities in South Carolina. The Association provides elected and appointed officials with educational opportunities, technical and legal assistance, concentrated lobbying efforts in the General Assembly, risk management programs, and information through various communication vehicles. The Association is dedicated to offering services and programs that will give municipal officials the knowledge, experience and tools for making the best possible public decisions in the complex world of municipal government. It is in the spirit of this dedication that we prepared this handbook for municipal officials. This handbook offers officials a general overview of local government operations. Additional copies of the handbook are $10 for municipal officials and $15 for others. To order additional copies, call the Municipal Association at 803.799.9574. A PDF version of the handbook is available at www.masc.sc, (keyword: Handbook for Municipal Officials). The online version will contain the latest updates from law changes and court cases. December 2017 Editor’s Notes: All references to he/him in this handbook are meant to be generic, not masculine terms. The S.C. Code of Laws is referenced by individual section numbers throughout this handbook. Check www.masc.sc (keyword: publications) for the latest version of Municipal Association publications. i ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ______________________________________________ CHAPTER 1 THE GOVERNING BODY ..................................................................................................................1 Home Rule ...................................................................................................................................1 Municipal Powers ..........................................................................................................1 Municipal Council .......................................................................................................................2 Quorum ..........................................................................................................................3 Abstaining from Voting .................................................................................................3 Salary and Expenses ......................................................................................................3 Dual Office Holding ......................................................................................................3 Conflict of Interest .........................................................................................................3 Term of Office ...............................................................................................................4 Mayor Pro Tempore .......................................................................................................4 Qualifications for Office ................................................................................................4 Temporary Vacancy – Military Service .........................................................................4 Vacancy..........................................................................................................................5 Resignation from Office ................................................................................................5 Suspension from Office .................................................................................................5 Removal and Forfeiture of Office ..................................................................................5 Forms of Municipal Government.................................................................................................5 Mayor-Council Form .....................................................................................................6 Council Form .................................................................................................................6 Council-Manager Form ..................................................................................................7 Changing the Form of Government ...............................................................................8 CHAPTER 2 ELECTIONS ......................................................................................................................................9 Types of Elections........................................................................................................................9 General Election.............................................................................................................9 Special Elections ..........................................................................................................10 Voter Qualification and Registration .........................................................................................12 Absentee Ballot ..........................................................................................................................12 Nomination of Candidates .........................................................................................................12 Nonpartisan Elections ..................................................................................................12 Partisan Elections .........................................................................................................13 The Election Process ..................................................................................................................14 Council Responsibilities ..............................................................................................14 Public Notices ..............................................................................................................15 Redistricting .................................................................................................................15 Municipal Election Commission..................................................................................15 County Election Commission ......................................................................................16 Contesting a Municipal Election ..................................................................................16 iii Single Candidate – Election Required .........................................................................17 Voting Systems ............................................................................................................17 State Ethics Act Requirements...................................................................................................17 Campaign Disclosure Practices....................................................................................17 Statement of Organization ...........................................................................................18 Certified Campaign Report – Contributors ..................................................................18 Accounts ......................................................................................................................18 Unexpected Funds ........................................................................................................19 Voting Rights Act ......................................................................................................................19 Submissions for Clearance ...........................................................................................19 CHAPTER 3 MUNICIPAL MEETINGS AND LEGISLATION ..................................................................................21 Council Meetings .......................................................................................................................21 Quorum ........................................................................................................................21 Abstaining ....................................................................................................................21 Presiding Officer ..........................................................................................................21 Freedom of Information Act ........................................................................................22 South Carolina Public Prayer and Invocation Act .......................................................22 Notice of Meetings and Agendas .................................................................................22 Adding an Item to the Agenda .....................................................................................23 Types of Meetings........................................................................................................25 Meeting Facilities.........................................................................................................27 Public Input ..................................................................................................................27 Media ...........................................................................................................................28 Minutes ......................................................................................................................................28 Contents .......................................................................................................................29 Approval ......................................................................................................................30