The Temecula City Council makes all the big decisions for the city.

It's made up of five people who are elected to serve four-year terms. They meet twice a month at the Civic Center to vote on the big issues, such as whether to pass an ordinance, to allow a housing tract to be built or how to use the city's tax revenue.

One of the council members is the mayor. The other council members vote on who the mayor will be, and every year they choose somebody new.

The title of mayor is purely ceremonial. They have no more authority than the other council members. The only difference is, they are in charge of running city council meetings by tapping a gavel at the beginning of the meetings and reading the items on which they're voting.

Another member acts as the mayor pro-tem. This person conducts the mayors duties when the mayor is absent. The other three members are called, simply, "council members."

The position is a volunteer one and pays less than $1,000 per month.

As of this writing in August, 2011, the members are Mayor Ron Roberts, Mayor Pro-Tem Chuck Washington, Councilmember Jeff Comerchero, Councilmember Maryann Edwards and Councilmember Mike Naggar.