Ala. Code § 11-43A-83
The council shall be the governing body of the municipality and shall exercise all legislative functions of the municipality. All powers of the municipality, including all powers vested by this article, by the constitution and by the general and local laws of this state, and the determination of all matters of policy, shall be vested in the council. Without limitation of the foregoing, the council shall have the power to appoint and remove the city manager, to establish other administrative departments of the municipality and to promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of such departments. The council shall have the power to override any veto of the mayor relating to ordinances and resolutions of a general and permanent nature by an affirmative vote of five of the seven members.
The council shall have the power to appoint members of boards, authorities and commissions to the extent otherwise provided municipal governing bodies in general by law. The council shall also have general powers of appointment for the municipality to the extent that such powers do not conflict with any existing general or local laws of this state or this article. Subject to the mayor's power of appointment set forth in Section 11-43A-82, the council shall appoint the members of all standing and ad hoc committees created or established by the council.
At the first regular council meeting following each municipal election, the council shall elect, by majority vote of the council, its president and president pro tem. In the event of the mayor's absence from any meeting of the council, the president shall preside over the meeting. In the event of the mayor's and the president's absence from any meeting of the council, the president pro tem shall preside over the meeting. The president and president pro tem shall be full voting members of the council.
Ala. Code § 11-43A-83 (1975)