A city council is a legislative body that governs the municipality (city) of a local government area. It may also be called a municipal council, town council, city board, district council, borough council, village council, or board of aldermen. Members of the council are often referred to as a city councillor, city councilwoman, or (in most English-speaking countries) councilman. In addition to passing laws, the council usually approves the city budget and supervises various city departments and agencies.
Most cities use a strong mayor-council system, in which the elected mayor serves as executive head of the administration and has significant authority for daily administration, while the separately elected council functions as the lawmaking body. The mayor may veto ordinances passed by the council, but the council can override the veto with two-thirds of the vote, or 26 council members.
City council members are typically elected to represent specific districts or wards within the city. In some places, council elections are partisan, and candidates run as Republicans or Democrats. In other places, councils are non-partisan, and council members do not declare their party affiliation although they may identify with a political party or receive endorsements from one. The responsibilities of a city council depend on state law and the city’s charter. Many states require cities to create independent boards to handle particular tasks, such as police and fire departments, zoning, and environmental protection. These boards are often overseen by council members who serve on the committees that review and approve their work.
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