The Greater London Authority (GLA) is the citywide government for London. As such the GLA is responsible for issues that concern every Londoner, from public transport fares and policing in your neighbourhood to cultural events such as the Olympic Games.
The GLA is made up of the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. There is a clear separation of powers within the GLA: the Mayor has an executive role whereas the Assembly's job is to scrutinise the mayor.
In that sense, the 25 members of the London Assembly act as a check and balance on the Mayor's power. They are elected by the people of London every four years, at the same time as the Mayor. The Assembly investigates issues of importance to Londoners, publishes its findings and recommendations, and makes proposals to the Mayor. It also appoints key members of the Authority’s staff.
The Mayor of London, currently Ken Livingstone, acts as the city's spokesman. He leads strategies to promote economic and social development and environmental improvement in London.
The Mayor also sets the annual budget for the four functional bodies in the Greater London Authority - the Metropolitan Police Authority, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, the London Development Agency and Transport for London.
The Mayor is required to consult the Assembly when preparing strategies, inform them of all major decisions, submit the GLA annual budget for approval and attend ten question time sessions each year which are open to the public www.london.gov.uk/assembly/mqt.jsp.
The next election will be on 1 May 2008.
More than five million Londoners are eligible to vote and you are one of them. In doing so, you're helping to ensure that your local government – and one of the world's most dynamic and influential cities - is supported by a robust and hands-on system.
