The constitution of 28 September 1860 says that the state is to be governed by the ten-member "Senate" headed by the "First Mayor" as the "President of the Senate". His deputy is the "Second Mayor". Until 1997 the First Mayor was elected by the Senate. Now he is elected by the "Bürgerschaft" (the city's parliament) and the Erster Bürgermeister has appointed and dismissed other Senators.