View source for Municipal council

{{More citations needed|date=November 2023}}
{{Merge to|Local government|date=April 2025}}{{Short description|Legislative body of a municipality or local government area}}
{{Legislature}}A '''municipal council''' is the [[legislature|legislative body]] of a [[municipality]] or [[local government area]]. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a '''city council''', '''[[town council]]''', '''town board''', '''community council''', '''borough council''', '''[[rural council (disambiguation)|rural council]]''', '''village council''', '''board of aldermen''', or '''[[Select board|board of selectmen]]'''.

== Australia ==
{{Main|Local government in Australia}}Because of the differences in legislation between the [[States and territories of Australia|states]], the exact definition of a city council varies. However, it is generally only those [[Local government in Australia|local government areas]] which have been specifically granted city status (usually on a basis of population) that are entitled to refer to themselves as cities. The official title is "Corporation of the City of ______" or similar.

Some of the urban areas of Australia are governed mostly by a single entity (e.g. [[Brisbane]] and other [[Queensland]] cities), while others may be controlled by a multitude of much smaller city councils. Also, some significant urban areas can be under the jurisdiction of otherwise rural local governments. Periodic re-alignments of boundaries attempt to rationalize these situations and adjust the deployment of assets and resources.

== Belize ==
{{main|Local government in Belize}}

There are currently seven [[Local government in Belize|town councils in Belize]]. Each town council consists of a mayor and a number of councillors, who are directly elected in municipal elections every three years. Town councils in Belize are responsible for a range of functions, including street maintenance and lighting, drainage, refuse collection, public cemeteries, infrastructure, parks and playgrounds.

== Canada ==
{{Main|Local government in Canada}}

=== Ontario ===
Township councils in Ontario play a similar role as [[city council]]s in cities for smaller or low tier municipalities. Directly elected every four years, the number of councillors vary depending on the size of their municipalities. The councillors' powers and responsibilities are governed by the ''[[Municipal Act]]'' of Ontario.

=== Manitoba ===
[[Manitoba]] town council members serve primarily as a policy and direction board for the community. They consist of five to seven members with the head of council being the mayor or [[Reeve (Canada)|reeve]].

== China ==
Municipal councils exist in the [[People's Republic of China]], these are designated as ''Municipal People's Congress'' in many [[sub-provincial city|sub-provincial cities]] and [[Direct-administered municipalities of China|direct-administered municipalities]] such as the [[Shanghai Municipal People's Congress]].

== France ==
{{Further|Municipal council (France)|List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants}}

In spite of enormous differences in populations, each of the communes of the French Republic possesses a [[Mayor (France)|mayor]] ({{langx|fr|maire}}) and a [[municipal council (France)|municipal council]] ({{langx|fr|conseil municipal}}), which manage the [[Commune in France|commune]] from the ''mairie'' ([[City hall (administration)|city hall]]), with exactly the same powers no matter the size of the commune and council. The one exception is the city of Paris, where [[Paris Police Prefecture|the city police is in the hands of the central state]], not in the hands of the mayor of Paris. This uniformity of status is a clear legacy of the French Revolution, which wanted to do away with the local idiosyncrasies and tremendous differences of status that existed in the kingdom of France.

The size of a commune still matters, however, in two domains: French law determines the size of the municipal council according to the population of the commune; and the size of the population determines which voting process is used for the election of the municipal council.

== Germany ==
{{Main|Municipal council (Germany)}}

== Hong Kong ==
{{Main|Urban Council|Regional Council (Hong Kong)}}

Established as the Sanitary Board in 1883, the Municipal Council in [[Hong Kong Island]] and [[Kowloon]] (including the [[New Kowloon]]) provided municipal services to the covered regions in the then [[British Hong Kong]]. Partial elections were allowed in 1887, though merely enabling selected persons to vote for members of the Board. The Board was reconstituted in 1935 and hence renamed as Urban Council in the following year after the government had passed the Urban Council Ordinance. Democratisation had been implemented, allowing universal suffrage to happen throughout its development. Two years after the [[Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong]], the council was disbanded in 1999 by the then [[Chief Executive of Hong Kong|Chief Executive]] of [[Hong Kong|Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]]. All members of the council were elected through [[universal suffrage]] by the time of the dissolution.

The counterpart of the Municipal Council serving the [[New Territories]] (excluding [[New Kowloon]]) was the [[Regional Council (Hong Kong)|Regional Council]] established as the Provisional Regional Council in 1986. The functional select committees, district committees, and sub-committees constituted the entire Regional Council. All members were elected from the [[constituencies]] and [[District Councils of Hong Kong|district boards]].

Both of the Municipal Councils in Hong Kong are now defunct.

==India==
{{Main|Municipal governance in India}}{{Further|Municipal council (India)}}
In India, a Municipal council is the legislative and decision-making body of a municipality. A municipality is the local government for a smaller urban area, known as municipal area. 
The entire district under the Municipality is divided into smaller legislative units known as a ward. The people of the ward elect a councillor known as the municipal councillor, and all such councillors together make the Council. The Council is the Legislative and decision-making unit of the Municipality. 
The head of the council is called a Chairperson, or President, followed by a Vice-chairperson or a Vice-president. All the meetings are conducted and presided over by the President. The state government appoints a Chief Executive Officer or Secretary of the Municipality who is responsible for the day-to-day administration.

In cities [[Municipal Corporation (India)|Municipal Corporation]] acts as the governing body.

== Israel ==
{{Full article|Local government in Israel}}
{{Citations needed|section|date=April 2025}}{{Stub-section|date=April 2025}}
Israel has three kinds of regional government:

* [[City (Israel)|Cities]];

* [[Local council (Israel)|Local councils]] ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: מועצות מקומיות), for smaller towns;
* [[Regional council (Israel)|Regional councils]] ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: מועצות אזוריות), that consist of several settlements ([[Kibbutz|Kibbutzim]], [[Moshav|Moshavim]], and Yeshuvim) who each have their own [[Local committee (Israel)|committee]] in addition to the Head of Regional Council.

Local councils and cities have a [[Chief security officer|Kabbat]] in charge of security and usually do not have fences (commonly referred to in Hebrew as Yellow Gates, שער צהוב) surrounding them, while regional councils have a council security officer and a [[Ravshatz]] ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: רבש"ץ, acronym for רכז ביטחון שוטף צבאי, Military Current Security Coordinator) in every settlement.

Regional councils' capitals usually reside in a local council or a city within them, as the title of "capital village" is deemed highly prestigious and controversial.

[[Municipal elections in Israel|Israeli municipal elections]] are scheduled every five years, and apply to all local governments in the country, [[Israeli Jews|Jewish]] and [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arab]] alike.

== Japan ==
Municipal councils are parliamentary bodies established in local authorities in accordance with Article 93 of the [[Constitution of Japan]] and Article 89 of the [[Local Autonomy Act]], etc.<ref>[https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/jichi_gyousei/bunken/chihogikai.html 地方議会(2022-11-25)]</ref> The [[Yokohama City Council|Yokohama]] and [[Osaka City Council]]s are examples.

==Jordan==
{{Main|Municipal council (Jordan)}}

== Malaysia ==
{{main|Local government in Malaysia}}

==Moldova==
{{Update|inaccurate=y|date=December 2012}}

The Municipal Council in [[Moldova]] is the governing body in five municipalities: [[Chișinău]],<ref name="regulament"/> [[Bălți]], [[Tiraspol]] and [[Bendery]] (also known as ''Tighina'' or ''Bender''). The Municipal Council ([[Moldovan language]]: ''Consiliul municipal'') serves as a consultative body with some powers of general policy determination.<ref name="regulament">{{cite web | url = http://www.chisinau.md/pageview.php?l=ro&idc=413 | title = Regulamentul privind constituirea și funcționarea Consiliului municipal Chișinău | publisher = Chișinău Town Hall | language = ro | access-date = 2012-12-18}}</ref> It is composed of a legally determined number of counsellors (for example 35 in Bălți) elected every four years, representing political parties and independent counsellors. Once elected, counsellors may form fractions inside of the Municipal Council.<ref name="regulament"/>

Last regional elections of local public administration held in Bălți in June 2007, brought to the power the [[Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova]] (PCRM), which holds 21 mandates, 11 mandates are held by representatives of other parties, and 3 mandates by independents. There are two fractions in the Municipal Council: PCRM fraction (21 counsellors) and "Meleag" fraction (3 independent counsellors and 4 representatives of different parties).

The Mayor of the municipality is elected for four years. In Bălți, Vasile Panciuc (PCRM) is the incumbent from 2001 and was re-elected twice: in 2003 during the anticipated elections (as a result of a new reform of the administrative division in Moldova in 2003), and in 2007. In Chișinău, the last mayor elections had to be repeated three times, because of the low rate of participation. As a result, [[Dorin Chirtoacă]] (Liberal Party), won the last mayor elections in [[Chișinău]].

== Netherlands ==
{{Main|Municipal council (Netherlands)}}

In the Netherlands, the municipal council (Dutch: ''gemeenteraad'') is the elected assembly of the municipality. It consists of between 9 and 45 members (as determined by law) who are elected by the citizens once every four years.

The council's main tasks are setting the city's policies and overseeing the execution of those policies by the municipality's [[College van burgemeester en wethouders|executive board]].

== New Zealand ==
{{Main|Local government in New Zealand}}
{{more citations needed section|date=May 2016}}Local councils in [[New Zealand]] do vary in structure, but are overseen by the government department [[Local Government New Zealand]]. For many decades until the local government reforms of 1989, a borough with more than 20,000 people could be proclaimed a [[List of cities in New Zealand|city]]. The boundaries of councils tended to follow the edge of the built-up area, so little distinction was made between the urban area and the local government area.

New Zealand's local government structural arrangements were significantly reformed by the [[Local Government Commission (New Zealand)|Local Government Commission]] in 1989 when [[List of former territorial authorities in New Zealand|approximately 700 councils and special purpose bodies]] were amalgamated to create 87 new local authorities.

As a result, the term "city" began to take on two meanings.

The word "city" came to be used in a less formal sense to describe major urban areas independent of local body boundaries. [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]], for example, adamantly described itself as the first city in the world to see the new millennium. Gisborne is administered by a district council, but its status as a city is not generally disputed.

Under the current law, the minimum population for a new city is 50,000.

== Norway ==
The municipal council ({{langx|no|Kommunestyre}}; {{lit|municipal board}}) is the highest governing body of the [[list of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Norway]]. Municipalities are the only unit of local government in Norway (in addition to the regional "county" level and the national level). The municipal council sets the scope of municipal activity, takes major decisions, and delegates responsibility. The council is led by a [[mayor]], {{native name|nb|ordfører}} or {{native name|nn|ordførar}}, and is divided into an executive council ({{lang|no|formannskap}}) and a number of committees, each responsible for a subsection of tasks. It is not uncommon for some members of the council to sit in the [[county council (Norway)|county councils]] too, but very rare that they also hold national office in the [[Storting]] or [[Government of Norway|Government]] without taking a [[leave of absence]] from the municipal council.<ref name="ks">{{Cite SNL|kommunestyre| kommunestyre|2024-12-31|Hansen|Tore|2024-11-25|editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene}}</ref>

The municipal council in Norway dates back the ''[[Formannskapsdistrikt]]'' law that went into effect on 1 January 1838. Historically, the council was known as a {{native name|nb|herredsstyre}} or {{native name|nn|heradsstyre}} in rural municipalities and {{lang|no|bystyre}} in urban/city municipalities. During the 1960s, the distinction between rural and urban municipalities was eliminated, however, many Norwegian cities still refer to their municipal council as a city council (''bystyre'').<ref name="ks" />

== Palestine ==
{{main|Village council (Palestinian Authority)}}

The [[Palestinian National Authority]] established [[Village council (Palestinian Authority)|village councils]] to serve as local administrations and service providers for Palestinian villages and small towns. Village councils are also referred to as D-level municipalities.

== Philippines ==
{{main|Sangguniang Bayan}}
In the [[Philippines]], all municipalities have their own municipal council, and these are officially called: "[[Sangguniang Bayan]]". [[Cities of the Philippines|Cities]] have a similar but separate form of legislature called "[[Sangguniang Panlungsod]]" (literally "city council"). The Local Government Code of 1991 established the current local government structure, including municipal councils.<ref name=ra7160>{{cite PH act|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1991/10/10/republic-act-no-7160|title=Local Government Code of 1991|chamber=RA|number=7160|publisher=[[Official Gazette (Philippines)|The Official Gazette]]|date=1991-10-10|author=[[Congress of the Philippines]]|accessdate=2023-12-18}}</ref> City councils range from 12, in most cities, to 38 members, such as the [[Manila City Council]]. Members of city councils are called "councilors".

== Republic of Ireland ==
{{Main|Local government in the Republic of Ireland}}

The [[Local Government Act 2001]] restyled the five county boroughs of [[Dublin]], [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Galway]], [[Waterford]], and [[Limerick]] as cities, each with a city council, having the same status in law as county councils.

The [[Local Government Reform Act 2014]] amalgamated [[Limerick City Council]] and [[Limerick County Council]] to form [[Limerick City and County Council]], and [[Waterford City Council]] and [[Waterford County Council]] to form [[Waterford City and County Council]].

== Singapore ==
{{main|Town Council (Singapore)}}

In Singapore, town councils are in charge of maintaining the common areas of [[Housing and Development Board]] (HDB) flats and estates, such as the common corridors, [[void deck]]s, lifts, water tanks, external lighting and the open spaces surrounding the estates. They are regulated under the {{Singapore legislation|title=Town Councils Act|titlelink=|cap=329A|ed=2000}}.

The rationale was to delegate the duties of estate management to the [[members of parliament]] in addition to their existing responsibilities. They would also gain management experience and be accountable to their district's resident voters.<ref>{{Cite Hansard|title=Measures to Protect Interests of Residents of Town Councils|jurisdiction=Singapore|house=[[Parliament of Singapore|Parliament]]|date=3 March 2014|url=http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00005713-WA&currentPubID=00005726-WA&topicKey=00005726-WA.00005713-WA_1%2Bid-8920e4d4-5192-4172-8dff-19d7b1bb230a%2B#|speaker=[[Khaw Boon Wan]]|position=Minister for National Development|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304214519/http://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00005713-WA&currentPubID=00005726-WA&topicKey=00005726-WA.00005713-WA_1%2Bid-8920e4d4-5192-4172-8dff-19d7b1bb230a%2B|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Town councils boundaries are drawn based on [[Constituencies of Singapore|electoral districts]] boundaries. A town council area can consist of a [[Group Representation Constituency]] (GRC), a Single Member Constituency (SMC), or a collection of neighbouring GRCs and SMCs controlled by the same political party. The Members of [[Parliament of Singapore|Parliament]] head the town councils of their constituencies. Town councils boundaries do not correspond to [[New towns of Singapore|new town]] boundaries; different parts of the same HDB town may be managed by different town councils.<ref>{{Singapore legislation|title=Town Councils Act|titlelink=|cap=329A|ed=2000}}</ref>

==Taiwan==
[[File:台北市議會.JPG|thumb|[[Taipei City Council]]]]

In the [[Taiwan|Republic of China]], a municipal council represents a [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipality]] or a [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial city]]. Members of the councils are elected through municipal [[Elections in the Republic of China|elections]] held every four–five years.

Councils for the [[Special municipality (Taiwan)|special municipalities]] in Taiwan are [[Taipei City Council]], [[New Taipei City Council]], [[Taichung City Council]], [[Tainan City Council]], [[Kaohsiung City Council]] and [[Taoyuan City Council]].

Councils for the [[Provincial city (Taiwan)|provincial cities]] in Taiwan are [[Chiayi City Council]], [[Hsinchu City Council]], and [[Keelung City Council]].

== Ukraine ==
In [[Ukraine]], almost all cities have their City Councils, and the mayors (usually elected by people) are the chairmen of them (e.g.: [[Kyiv City Council]], [[Kharkiv City Council]], [[Odesa City Council]], [[Lviv City Council]], [[Chernihiv City Council]]).

== United Kingdom ==
{{Main|City status in the United Kingdom#City councils|l1=City councils in the United Kingdom}}

In the United Kingdom, not all cities have city councils, and the status and functions of city councils vary.

In [[England]], since the [[Local Government Act 1972]], "town council" is the specific name given to a [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] council which has declared itself by resolution to be a town council. If another type of local council, such as a [[Districts of England|district]] authority, covers a single town (such as [[Luton]] or [[Stevenage]]) then the council is often a 'borough council': borough status is however conferred at the discretion of [[the Crown]]. There is also the London assembly which is City council by default

Civil parishes are the most local level in the local government system. The higher levels are [[Districts of England|district]], [[Unitary authority|unitary]] and [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties|county]]. However town councils are not subordinate in democratic accountability to those higher levels, but to the electorate of their civil parish area.

The chairman of a town council is entitled to be styled as "town mayor". This term contrasts with simply "mayor", which means the mayor of a [[borough]] or a [[List of cities in the United Kingdom|city]]. However, this is often abbreviated simply to mayor, especially where the town was historically a borough or city, such as [[Lewes]] or [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]]. In [[Scotland]], the term '[[Provost (civil)|provost]]' is commonly used to designate the leader of the town council.

Historically the term 'town council' was used for the governing body of a [[municipal borough]] until the [[Local Government Act 1972|1972 Act]].

=== England ===
A city council may be:

* The council of a [[Metropolitan borough|metropolitan district]] that has been granted [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] such as [[Liverpool City Council]].
* The council of a [[non-metropolitan district]] that has been granted city status such as [[Winchester City Council]]. Some of these councils are [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authorities]] and some share functions with [[Non-metropolitan county|county]] councils such as [[Portsmouth City Council]].
* A [[Parish councils in England|parish council]] that has been granted city status such as [[Salisbury City Council]]. These councils have limited functions. The city of [[Durham, England|Durham]] has a parish council, but it is known as the City of Durham Parish Council, not the city council.
* The council of a [[London borough]] that has been granted city status (of which there is only one example: [[Westminster City Council]]), or the [[City of London Corporation]].

=== Northern Ireland ===
[[Belfast City Council]] is now the only city council. Since the [[Reform of local government in Northern Ireland|local government reforms of 2015]] the other four cities form parts of wider [[Districts of Northern Ireland|districts]] and do not have their own councils.

=== Scotland ===
A city council is the council of one of four [[council areas]] designated a City by the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]] such as [[Glasgow City Council]].

The three cities which are not council areas have no city council.

=== Wales ===
In [[Wales]], where the lowest tier of local government is known as a [[Community council|community]], the Community Council may unilaterally declare itself to be a Town Council, but this has the same status as a Community Council.

A city council may be:

* One of the three councils of [[Subdivisions of Wales#Principal areas of Wales|principal areas]] that have been granted [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] such as [[Newport City Council]].
* One of the three [[community council]]s, with limited functions, that have been granted city status such as [[Bangor City Council]].

== United States ==
{{Main|Local government in the United States|}}
[[File:Fullerton_City_Council.jpg|thumb|A city council chambers in Fullerton, California]]
City councils and town boards generally consist of several (usually somewhere between 5 and 51) elected [[Alderman|aldermen]] or [[councillor]]s. In the United States, members of city councils are typically called '''council member''', '''council man''', '''council woman''', '''councilman''', or '''councilwoman''', while in Canada they are typically called '''councillor'''.

In some cities, the [[mayor]] is a voting member of the council who serves as [[chairman]]; in others, the mayor is the city's independent [[chief executive]] (or [[strong mayor]]) with [[veto]] power over city council [[legislation]]. In larger cities the council may elect other executive positions as well, such as a council [[President (government title)#Sub-national|president]] and [[Speaker (politics)|speaker]].

The council generally functions as a [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] or [[Presidential system|presidential]]  style legislative body, proposing bills, holding votes, and passing laws to help govern the city.

The role of the mayor in the council varies depending on whether or not the city uses [[council–manager government]] or [[mayor–council government]], and by the nature of the statutory authority given to it by state law, city charter, or municipal ordinance.

There is also a [[Pro tempore#Mayor pro tem|mayor pro tem]] councilmember. In cities where the council elects the mayor for one year at a time, the mayor pro tem is in line to become the mayor in the next year. In cities where the mayor is elected by the city's voters, the mayor pro tem serves as [[Acting (law)|acting]] mayor in the absence of the mayor. This position is also known as [[vice mayor]].

In some cities a different name for the municipal legislature is used. In [[Portland, Oregon]], for example, it is known as the City Commission. In [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], it is known as the [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors|Board of Supervisors]]; San Francisco is a [[consolidated city-county]] and the [[California]] constitution requires each county to have a [[Board of Supervisors]].

[[Ohio]] constitution allows local home rule to define any type of government via a Charter Commission including a type with no Mayor (city manager) or potentially citizen's could vote to institute a [[pure democracy]] with no council<ref>{{Cite web |title=Article XVIII, Section 3 - Ohio Constitution {{!}} Ohio Laws |url=https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-constitution/section-18.3 |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=codes.ohio.gov}}</ref>

=== Indiana ===
[[Indiana]] town council members serve as both the executive and legislative branches for small communities incorporated as towns within the state. They consist of three or five members, depending upon the town's population.

Unlike some states, Indiana council members must declare a political party affiliation, if any, when they file to run for office. Upon election in November, they are sworn in before 1 January of the following year, where they serve a four-year term. There are no state term limits affecting how many times a candidate may run for re-election to office.

The first meeting after an election, members of the town council hold an organising meeting, where they elect a president to set future agendas and act as an official spokesman for the town or as liaison between the town and state and county government.

Indiana town councils work in conjunction with an elected [[town clerk]], who manages the day-to-day business of the municipal government. As an elected official, the town clerk is solely executive in function and operates independently of the town council. But the council has final say on budgets which clerks depend upon to operate.

In addition to a clerk, the council can authorise the hiring of other staff to run the operations of government, including law enforcement officers, [[utility]] workers, park and recreation employees and [[town manager]]s. These employees serve at the pleasure of the council.

=== Massachusetts ===
{{Further|Government of Massachusetts}}
Town councils in [[Massachusetts]] are essentially [[city council]]s in towns which have adopted a city form of government but prefer to retain the "town of" in their names. In several communities which have adopted such a government, the official name of the community is "The City known as the Town of..." The legislative body of a legal town in Massachusetts is a [[town meeting]]; the executive board is a [[board of selectmen]]. In addition to having the structure of a city with a mayor and council, cities in Massachusetts can enact ordinances, while towns may adopt by-laws, which are subject to the approval of the [[Massachusetts Attorney General|Attorney General]]. City ordinances are presumed to be legal unless challenged and set aside in court.

=== Michigan ===
In [[Michigan]], there are [[List of municipalities in Michigan|257 incorporated villages]] that are governed by village councils, which is a form of [[Mayor–council government|weak–mayor]] administration.  Michigan does not use "town" as a defined municipality, and villages are the lowest-level form of incorporated municipality.  Villages are distinct from cities in that they share certain duties with their surrounding township and are not completely autonomous.  Guidelines for village governments are defined in the General Law Village Act (Act 3) of 1895.  Village councils consist of elected officials, including a village president, trustees, clerk, and treasurer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Michigan Municipal League|date=2015|title=Chapter 3: Duties of Village Officials|url=https://www.mml.org/pdf/resources/publications/ebooks/GLV_Hamdbook_by_chapter/CH%203%20Duties%20of%20Village%20Officials.pdf|access-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Michigan Municipal League|date=2019|title=Municipal Report: Organization of City and Village Government in Michigan|url=https://www.mml.org/pdf/charter_revision/village7.pdf|access-date=January 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Legislative Council, State of Michigan|date=2019|title=General Law Village Act (Act 3) of 1895|url=https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-Act-3-of-1895.pdf|access-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref>

=== New Hampshire ===
In [[New Hampshire]], the '''Town Council''' is an elected body which serves as the [[legislative]] and executive body of the town. The town is governed by a [[charter]], which is allowed under the [[home rule]] provision of the [[New Hampshire Constitution]] (Pt I, Art. 39) and Title III of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated. The charter for a Town Council must meet the following requirements of [http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/III/49-D/49-D-3.htm RSA 49-D:3 I. (a) – (e)] and all other applicable laws. The basic notion of home rule in New Hampshire is that local communities are not allowed to supersede the authority specifically granted to them by the state.

==== Official Ballot Town Council ====
The Official Ballot Town Council is a variant form of the Town Council. In the Official Ballot form of government, the town council is vested with the limited authority to vote on all matters not voted on by official ballot. The authority and restrictions on the Official Ballot town council is the same as the Town Council, except with respect to those matters specified to be voted on by official ballot. Also, the council decides what is placed on the ballot, not the registered voters.

The charter of the Official Ballot Town Council is required by law to specify specifically:

* Which budgetary items to be included on the official ballot; and
* A finalisation process for the annual budget; and
* Process for public hearings, debate, discussion and amendment of questions to be placed on the official ballot; and
* Procedures for the transfer of funds among various departments, funds, accounts and agencies as may be necessary during the year; and
* Applicability of the official ballot procedure to special elections

The charter also must specify whether a {{frac|2|3}} or {{frac|3|5}} majority vote is required to approve bonds or notes, with the default being {{frac|2|3}}.

=== New Jersey ===
In [[New Jersey]], under the [[Faulkner Act]], municipalities have a variety of models of local government. The [[legislative]] branch follows the subdivision's style: [[City (New Jersey)|city]] council, [[Town (New Jersey)|town]] council, [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] council, [[Township (New Jersey)|township]] committee, or [[Village (New Jersey)|village]] council, except for [[Newark, New Jersey]] which has a [[Municipal Council of Newark|municipal council]].

=== Ohio ===
In [[Ohio]], the default form of municipal government organization provides limitations on the legislative body of a statutory form of government. The Ohio Revised Code does not allow the local legislative authority (council) the power to review contracts nor perform administrative duties. [https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-731.05 No review of Contracts] limiting the [[Separation of powers#Checks and balances|checks & balances]] in a statutory form of government. A charter form of government could provide the legislative body more administrative powers, change number of seats, or change required qualifications. 
The Ohio Constitution provides for local self-government powers via a charter as defined in [https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-constitution/section-18.7 Section 7 of Article XVIII] reads as follows: 
{{Blockquote|text=Any municipality may frame and adopt or amend a charter for its government and may, subject to the provisions of section 3 of this article, exercise thereunder all powers of local self-government.}}
Sections 8 and 9 of Article XVIII provide the procedures for adoption and amendment of a municipal charter. <br>
The initial form of Municipal Government in Ohio is called Statuary because it is based on the default form outlined in the Ohio Revised Code statute [https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/title-7 Title 7 ]. <br>
Ohio Revised code allows for a system with no Mayor and strong council, known as [https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-705.51 Section 705.51 | City manager plan.]

==== City of Kent, Ohio Mayor Title Only for Ceremonial Purposes ====
The City of [[Kent, Ohio]] has a [https://www.kentohio.org/476/City-Charter charter form] of Government which: {{Blockquote|text=Mayor shall be recognized as head of the City government for all ceremonial purposes, but shall have no administrative duties. (Amended 11-08-05) }}

=== Bicameralism ===
[[Bicameralism|Bicameral]] city councils were common in the United States until the 20th century, when many were abolished for [[Cost reduction|cost cutting]] purposes and replaced with [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] legislatures. Typically, bicameral city councils were divided into Common Councils and [[Alderman|Boards of Aldermen]], to reflect the structure of federal and state legislatures. The city of [[Everett, Massachusetts]] was the last to abolish its own bicameral city council (a seven-member Board of Aldermen and an 18-member Common Council) and replace it with an 11-member City Council, doing so with a November 8, 2011 referendum which took effect in 2014.

Examples include:

* [[Philadelphia City Council]] was bicameral from 1789 to 1919, when it included a 149-member Common Council and 41-member Select Council, making it the largest municipal legislature in the United States.
* [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester City Council]] – 11-member Board of Aldermen; 30-member Common Council (1848–1948)
* [[Seattle City Council]] – nine-member Board of Aldermen; 16-member House of Delegates (1890–1896)
* [[New York City Council]] – a quasi-bicameral arrangement of the [[New York City Board of Estimate]] and the City Council until the board's abolition in 1989
* [[Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis]] – from 1877 to 1915

== Others ==

* [[Community council]], lowest tier of local government in England, Scotland and Wales
* [[Rural council (disambiguation)]]
* [[Rural Municipality]] or [[Gaunpalika]] ([[Nepal]])
* [[Village council (Palestinian Authority)]]

==See also==
* [[County council]]
*[[Local election|Municipal elections]]
*[[Municipal corporation]]
*[[Petition]]s and [[E-petition]]s (can be submitted to city councils<ref>[https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/petitions Petitions being an important citizen tool in Glasgow's City Council]</ref>)
*[[Trustee]] (City Government-Village Board of Trustees)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:City councils| Municipal council]]
[[Category:Municipalities]]