City Council Law and Legal Definition
A city council is the legislative body that governs a city. This body has authority to pass ordinances and appropriate funds. City councils generally consist of several city councillors or alderman. They are the chief legislative bodies of municipalities of American city government since colonial era.
For example, the Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles. The council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The President of the Council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the council at the first regular meeting after June 30 in odd-numbered years. An assistant president pro tempore is appointed by the President.
However in U.S some city councils are known by different names. For example in San Francisco, it is known as the Board of Supervisors because San Francisco is a consolidated city-county.
City Councils are also termed Board of Alderman.
