1688 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 702

County. The Court shall thereupon pass an order requiring
the said officer to show cause why his office should not be
vacated, and the vacancy filled as herein provided. A copy
of said order shall be served upon the said officer, and such
order shall be made returnable not more than twenty days
following its passage. If the said officer shall fail to answer
the order, the Court shall determine the matter ex parte. If
the said officer shall answer the order, the Court shall hear
the case, and shall thereupon decide it either by dismissing
the petition or by declaring the said office vacant. The Court
may award costs as appear to be equitable and right.

41. VACANCIES, (a) In case of a vacancy from any
cause in the office of Mayor or Councilman, the Mayor and
City Council shall fill such vacancy by appointment within
20 days from date said vacancy occurred. Any person so ap-
pointed shall have all the qualifications required for election
to the particular office, and he shall receive the salary of
that position during his tenure in office.

(b) Any such appointment of a Mayor pro tern shall be
made by the City Council from among its own membership.
Such Mayor pro tempore shall have and exercise all the pow-
ers and duties of a duly elected and qualified Mayor, and his
acts shall have the same force and validity as those of a duly
elected and qualified Mayor. He shall be known as the Acting
Mayor.

42. DUTIES, (a) The Mayor and City Council shall be
the legislative department of the City government, with the
power to pass such ordinances, orders and regulations and to
do such other things as may be authorized by this Article.

(b) References throughout this Article to the Mayor and
City Council shall be to the Mayor and City Council of Cum-
berland, in their corporate character unless the context
clearly shall require otherwise.

43. (Vacant. )

44. MEETINGS. The Mayor and City Council shall meet
at least twice each month in regular session, at such time as
it may determine, to act upon such municipal business as
may come before it. A majority of all the members of the
Mayor and City Council shall be a quorum for the considera-
tion of municipal business, but no action of the Mayor and
City Council shall be effective unless it receives the favorable
vote of a majority of the full membership thereof. All ses-
sions of the Mayor and City Council at which any ordinance
is passed, or any order or resolution adopted, shall be open