Government of Chicago

The government of the City of Chicago, Illinois, United States is divided into executive and legislative branches. The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive, elected by general election for a term of four years, with no term limits. The mayor appoints commissioners and other officials who oversee the various departments. In addition to the mayor, Chicago's two other citywide elected officials are the City Clerk and the City Treasurer.

The City Council is the legislative branch and is made up of 50 alderpersons, one elected from each ward in the city.^[1] The council takes official action through the passage of ordinances and resolutions and approves the city budget.^[2] Government priorities and activities are established in a budget ordinance usually adopted each November.