The magistrate is the head of the administration. It is responsible for day-to-day administration and, in particular, prepares and implements the resolutions of the municipal council. The municipal offices and other organizational units support it in this. Its tasks also include, for example, the administration of public facilities and commercial enterprises, the preparation of the budget and investment plan and the supervision of cash and accounting.

With the exception of the Lord Mayor, the members of the City Council are elected by the City Assembly. In addition to the Lord Mayor, the magistrate is made up of full-time magistrate members (department heads) and honorary city councillors. The full-time magistrate members are elected for a term of office of six years, while honorary members are elected for the current term of office of the City Council. As a collegiate body, the municipal council passes resolutions by majority vote. Its meetings are not open to the public.

The magistrate members attend the meetings of the municipal council, but do not have the right to vote. The mayor chairs the municipal council. He is elected directly by the citizens and his term of office is six years. Within the Magistrat, he can assign tasks and responsibilities directly to city councillors. In urgent cases, the Lord Mayor can order the necessary measures without the magistrate having passed a corresponding resolution, but he must inform the magistrate of this immediately. Finally, the Lord Mayor represents the city at events.