What is a city council?

A city council is the lawmaking body of a city, responsible for passing local ordinances, approving the city budget, levying local taxes, and overseeing city agencies. City councils are typically made up of elected members who represent districts within the city or, in some cases, are elected at large by all city voters. The size of city councils varies dramatically. Small cities may have councils with just three to five members, while large cities can have much larger councils. The New York City Council has 51 members representing geographic districts. The Los Angeles City Council has 15 members. The Chicago City Council has 50 members representing wards.

Council members are usually elected to four-year terms, though some cities use two-year terms. Many cities stagger council elections so that not all seats are up for election at the same time, providing continuity. Some cities have term limits for council members; others do not.

City councils pass ordinances, which are local laws governing matters within the city's authority such as zoning, building codes, public safety regulations, business licensing, parking rules, animal control, and noise restrictions. Councils approve the annual city budget, which determines spending on schools, police, fire, sanitation, parks, and other services. They also set local tax rates, particularly property tax rates, within the limits set by state law.

The role of the city council in the executive structure of the city depends on the form of government. In strong-mayor cities, the council acts as a check on the mayor's executive power, similar to how the U.S. Congress acts as a check on the President. In council-manager cities, the council hires a professional city manager to run day-to-day operations and acts as the legislative and policy-making body, while the manager handles administration. In commission cities (a less common form), each council member also heads a city department.

City councils often work through committees on specific topics such as transportation, public safety, economic development, parks, or zoning. Public meetings of city councils are required by state open meetings laws in all 50 states. These meetings provide opportunities for residents to comment on proposed actions and engage with their elected representatives. City councils handle most local government decisions that affect daily life within their cities.