The Council is vested with all the law-making powers of the
County. The Council may enact public local laws for the peace, good
government, health, safety or welfare of the County. It may repeal
and amend the local laws for the County heretofore enacted by the
General Assembly upon the matters covered by Article 25A, Annotated
Code of Maryland, 1957, and all revisions or amendments thereof as
may hereafter be enacted. Nothing in this Charter shall be construed
to authorize or empower the Council to enact laws or regulations for
a municipality in the County on a matter covered by the powers granted
to a municipality by its charter or the act incorporating it or a
subsequent amendment to the act.
Except during the month of November in the year in which councilmembers
are elected, the Council may enact legislation on the first and third
Tuesdays of each month, and on any additional days the Council may
determine necessary. When the first or third Tuesday is a legal holiday,
the next succeeding Tuesday shall be a day for the enactment of legislation.
In no event shall the Council sit for more than 45 days in a calendar
year for the purpose of enacting legislation.
An emergency law shall take effect on the date of enactment. The Annual Budget and Appropriations Ordinance shall take effect on the first day of the fiscal year to which it applies. All other laws shall take effect 60 calendar days after enactment, except in the event a law provides for a later effective date or is referred to the voters under Section
307 of this Charter.
The Council shall cause a fair summary of all laws enacted,
amended, or repealed under this Charter to be published promptly at
least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County.