The city council is a vital, but often overlooked part of local democracy. The city’s elected representatives decide on a wide range of issues — from where new affordable housing should go to whether your gas station can have gaming machines. They are also in charge of conducting a thorough and regular independent audit of the city’s financial accounts. And they are empowered to criticize the mayor in public and, in some cases, even subpoena city officials to ensure that the administration is not evading accountability.
The charter sets forth what are, for the most part, standardized and well accepted procedural rules that govern the council’s official action. These include requiring that all meetings be open to the public and that a journal of proceedings be kept as an official record. Many cities have additional, state-specific protections for their councils, such as requiring that any closed or executive sessions be approved by a majority of the council.
Council Members are elected from districts and serve four-year, staggered terms. They are required to attend all council meetings and can be called upon to make statements or introduce legislation.
They are expected to work together with one another, despite differing political viewpoints and priorities. They have a variety of tools to help them achieve their goals, such as the ability to convene special committees and to vote in private, at their discretion, on bills during legislative sessions. They are also able to meet in their respective districts and caucuses, groups of Council Members who share similar concerns, to develop policy.
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