[the guy who be short]

Originally Posted by Friend of the birds

Where do you find it stated that the mayor of the shire has no actual duties?

In the prologue.

Originally Posted by Tollers

The only real official in the Shire at this date was the Mayor of Michel Delving (or of the Shire), who was elected every seven years at the Free Fair on the White Downs at the Lithe, that is at Midsummer. As mayor almost his only duty was to preside at banquets, given on the Shire-holidays, which occurred at frequent intervals. But the offices of Postmaster and First Shirriff were attached to the mayoralty, so that he managed both the Messenger Service and the Watch. These were the only Shire-services, and the Messengers were the most numerous, and much the busier of the two. By no means all Hobbits were lettered, but those who were wrote constantly to all their friends (and a selection of their relations) who lived further off than an afternoon's walk.

His administritive duties came down to "General Supervisor."

Originally Posted by LMP

It should be understood that there are two types of leadership responsibilities: those of Head of State, and those of Policy Decision-maker. As with the current British royalty, the Mayorship of the Shire is head of state; that is, figure-head, responsibility lying exclusively in the realm of ceremony.

But if we are to accept this as true, then who is the Policy Decision-maker? I hold that the Shire has none, not having a central government or any real governmental structure. So that the Mayor does indeed become the Decision-maker as well as the Figurehead. Except he has no real decisions to make, unless there are two conflicting banquets...

Originally Posted by LMP

Not so. They exerted the authority of head of their respective families. Whereas this authority did not carry beyond their extended families per sé, the respect for them held by those not directly related, translated into the authority of reputation, a powerful thing in itself in more loosely governed communities such as the Shire.

Hmm. You have a point there - they had respect. But I wouldn't muddle that with authority. Save for being the head of a rather large household, neither of them could really be comparable to a governmental position such as Prime Minister, could they? To be succinct, they didn't do anything.