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Power of the Alderman
The Board of Aldermen is a governing body of certain jurisdictions in the United States. The term can be used instead of city council, with its member known as “Alderman” or “Alderwoman.” Aldermen, or council members, make up the city council in a mayor-councili form of government. In a strong-mayor system i, the aldermen adopt the budget and other policy, pass legislation resolutions, and assess the performance of the government. In a weak mayor system, the aldermen have greater legislative powers. 13
Chicago’s aldermen serve on the City Council, making up the legislative government of the city of Chicago. There are 50 wards or legislative districts in Chicago, and each ward elects an alderman to be its representative in the council for a four-year term. Together the 50 aldermen make up the Chicago City Council, with legislative powers granted by the state legislature and the Illinois constitution. The council governs the city with the mayor, meeting regularly, usually once a month, to consider orders, resolutions, and ordinances concerning issues including taxes and traffic code changes, among others. The council’s powers include the ability to regulate for the protection of the public health, morals, welfare, and safety as well as to license and to tax. 14 Aldermen also have aldermanic privilege, the power to block city council or city government actions that concern their own wards. Changes in the zoning ordinance are also left up to the members of the city council. An ethics ordinance was adopted in 1997, helping to regulate the practice but not eliminate it. 15
History of Chicago WardsIn 1837, with its first municipal charter, Chicago was divided into legislative districts known as wards. Four out of the six wards were allowed to elect two members to the Common Council, and the other two wards elected one member each. Throughout the nineteenth century the number of wards grew, and in 1923 the current system was established with each of the 50 wards electing one alderman. To ensure more equal representation, state law requires that the boundaries of every ward must be redrawn after each federal census. There were five court-ordered redistrictings throughout the 1970’s and 80’s because of underrepresentation of minorities. 16 |
Mayor and City Council Checks and BalancesThe mayor is seen as the official head of the city by the courts and governor. The mayor also has veto power over the City Council and may appoint members of boards, commissions, or agencies. Any ordinance the council passes will go to the City Clerk, and afterwards, if approved, the mayor will sign them. If the mayor disapproves, the ordinance will be sent back to the council for their next meeting with objections in writing. If three-fifths of the council still agrees to pass an ordinance, even without the mayor’s approval it will pass. The members of the council possess purely legislative powers, while the mayor has the power to enforce the city’s laws and ordinances, to appoint and remove heads of departments, to exercise control departments, to attend all council meetings, and to recommend adoptions to the council. 17 |