Chicago City Council

Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Founded	December 13, 1837
Leadership
Mayor	Brandon Johnson (D) ; since May 15, 2023
Vice Mayor	Walter Burnett (D) ; since May 15, 2023
President pro tempore	Sam Nugent (D) ; since May 15, 2023
Floor Leader	Vacant ; since November 6, 2023
Assistant President pro tempore	Stephanie Coleman (D) ; since May 15, 2023
Secretary	Anna Valencia (D) ; since January 25, 2017
Structure
Seats	50
Political groups	Democratic (47); Independent (3);
Length of term	4 years
Elections
Voting system	Two-round system
Last election	2023
Next election	2027
Meeting place
	Council Chambers in Chicago City Hall

The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 alderpersons elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms.^[1] The council is called into session regularly, usually monthly, to consider ordinances, orders, and resolutions whose subject matter includes code changes, utilities, taxes, and many other issues. The Chicago City Council Chambers are located in Chicago City Hall, as are the downtown offices of the individual alderpersons and staff.

The presiding officer of the council is the Mayor of Chicago, who is usually non-voting, except in rare cases, such as to break a tie. The secretary is the City Clerk of Chicago. Both positions are city-wide elected offices. In the absence of the mayor, an alderperson elected to the position of President Pro Tempore serves as the presiding officer.^[2]^[3]

Originally established as the Common Council in 1837, it was renamed City Council in 1876. The Council assumed its modern form of 50 wards electing one alderperson each in 1923.

Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

^ "65 ILCS 20/ Revised Cities and Villages Act of 1941". Illinois General Assembly – Illinois Compiled Statutes. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
^ g.angelo (September 21, 2015). "About City Government & the Chicago City Council". City Clerk of Chicago. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
^ Pratt, John Byrne, Juan Perez Jr , Gregory. "Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot aces first test of her power: City Council overhaul approved". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved May 29, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[2] "65 ILCS 20/ Revised Cities and Villages Act of 1941". Illinois General Assembly – Illinois Compiled Statutes. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.

[g.angelo-3] .angelo (September 21, 2015). "About City Government & the Chicago City Council". City Clerk of Chicago. Retrieved May 29, 2019.

[Pratt-4] Pratt, John Byrne, Juan Perez Jr , Gregory. "Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot aces first test of her power: City Council overhaul approved". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved May 29, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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