city council
Local governing body
A city council is the elected legislative body that governs a municipality, responsible for passing local laws, approving budgets, and setting policy: The city council voted to raise property taxes.
Members are called city councilors or council members.
In some cities, the council appoints the mayor; in others, the mayor is separately elected and works alongside the council.
Local governing district
- aldermanElected municipal legislator
- councillorElected local representative
- mayorElected head of municipality
- chairpersonOne who leads meetings
representative · ward · chamber · meeting · session · agenda · motion · resolution
Official government regulation
- bylawInternal governing rule
- statuteEnacted written rule
- amendmentChange to official text
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
bill · regulation · charter · code · proposal · enactment · ratification · first reading
People living somewhere
- taxpayersThose who owe the state
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
- public participationCitizens joining decision-making
- town hall meetingGathering for civic dialogue
open session · accountability · transparency · representation · community · neighborhood · petition · grievance
Organized effort toward goal
- ballotVoting document
- candidatesThose seeking selection
- votersThose who cast ballots
- constituentsParts of a whole
precinct · polling · turnout · incumbent · challenger · nomination · endorsement · debate
Sectioning areas by use
- land useHow terrain is allocated
- budgetPlan for spending
- appropriationUnauthorized claiming or allocation
- taxationCompulsory government revenue collection
permits · licensing · public safety · sanitation · infrastructure · housing · transportation · parks
municipality
Local governing district
- aldermanElected municipal legislator
- councillorElected local representative
- mayorElected head of municipality
chairperson · representative · ward · chamber · meeting · session · agenda · motion · resolution · quorum
ordinance
Official government regulation
resolution · bill · regulation · charter · code · proposal · enactment · ratification · first reading · public comment
residents
People living somewhere
- taxpayersThose who owe the state
- civic dutyObligation owed to community
- public participationCitizens joining decision-making
town hall meeting · open session · accountability · transparency · representation · community · neighborhood · petition · grievance · advocacy
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
- ballotVoting document
- candidatesThose seeking selection
- votersThose who cast ballots
constituents · precinct · polling · turnout · incumbent · challenger · nomination · endorsement · debate · platform
zoning
Sectioning areas by use
- land useHow terrain is allocated
- budgetPlan for spending
- appropriationUnauthorized claiming or allocation
taxation · permits · licensing · public safety · sanitation · infrastructure · housing · transportation · parks · recreation
- CouncilsSanhedrin, Soviet, Duma, curia, conclave
- local newscommunity news, local reporter, local politics, local events, local elections
- city governmentmayor's office, public servants, civil servants, municipal employees, mayors
- local electionsschool board, county commissioner, municipal election, local races, sheriff
- NYC Governmentmayor, comptroller, public advocate, community board, commissioner
- city planningzoning, permits, permit, public works, sewers
city councilfederal government
Centralized national ruling body
state legislature · Congress · state government · provincial government · federal legislature
city councilbusiness interests
Financial concerns in commerce
neighborhood association · grassroots movement · town meeting · direct democracy
city, council, cite, cities, citation, citizenship, citing, citizenry, citizenships