Your city council makes decisions that impact your daily life. They decide where new parks will be built, how many people can live in your neighborhood, whether your local gas station can have gaming machines and more. They do this by enacting laws and ordinances called legislation. The specifics vary by state, but you can learn more by tuning into debates, attending town halls or reaching out to candidates directly.
The biggest difference between different city councils is whether or not members are partisans — in other words, they run as representatives of a particular political party. If they are, the party is listed on the ballot when you vote. In places that don’t have partisan city councils, members can still be affiliated with a party and may meet with other legislators from that party in caucuses or other groups to share ideas and collaborate on legislative projects.
Many city council members get their start on community boards, which are made up of volunteers and serve two-year terms. These are often considered the entry level for government and many politicians like the speaker of the New York City Council and land use chair of the NYC Council, Adrienne Adams, got their starts on a community board.
The New York City Council consists of 51 council districts with each council member representing one district. They also serve as a check on the mayor in a mayor-council government model and have sole responsibility for the city budget. The council also appoints the city manager and may have limited or no veto power over the mayor’s legislation.
About the Author
