During the Federal Administration of New Orleans, much of the power of the mayor was severely curtailed in order to enforce the peace and quell seditious activities. This was officially adopted in the Metropolitan Police Act passed in 1869. This restriction was short lived as in 1877 a city ordinance restored control over the city's police to the Mayor and Police administrators. The Charter of 1870 expanded the mayor's powers. He was granted the power to issue permits and licenses to merchants and businesses, provide some limited healthcare to the city's destitute and orphans, and to inspect the city's orphanages, mental health facilities, and prisons.

By 1896, power became centralized "in one Mayor, one Comptroller, one Treasurer, one Commissioner of Public Works, one Commissioner of Police and Public Buildings and one City Engineer." The Mayor was also given the duty to report city officials who committed crimes while in office. Following accusations in 1894 that John Fitzpatrick did not follow his duty as Mayor by suspending an official on charges of bribery, the 1896 City Charter required this duty and made failure to comply subject to impeachment. The 1857 Charter required the Mayor to report to the City Council on the condition of the city "from time to time," but this requirement became more stringent in 1896 and required the Mayor make a monthly report to the Council.