The City of London operates through its
Lord Mayor, aldermen and other
members
of the Court of Common Council elected by the residents and
businesses of the City's 25
wards.
Like the Lord Mayor and aldermen they stand as independent members
and carry out their work voluntarily.
The Court of Common Council
The Court of Common Council is the City of London's primary
decision-making assembly, and meets every four weeks. It works
through committees, like any other local authority, but it is
unique in that it is non-party political. Its main business focuses
on the reports of committees and members' questions and
motions.
Common Council is elected by the
wards of
the City. Elections, when all the seats are up for election or
re-election, will next be held in March 2009 and every four years
afterward. Each ward returns between two and 10
members
depending on the size of the electorate. Candidates, men or women,
must be 21 or over, a British subject (or a citizen of another
European Union country) and a
Freeman of the City of London. They must also either
- be registered to vote at any ward election or
- own freehold or leasehold land in the City or
- have lived in the City in the 12 months prior to the nomination
date and intend to live there until the election date.
The Court of Aldermen
The role of the Court of Aldermen has changed considerably over
the City of London's long
history. Centuries ago it was responsible for the entire
administration of the City but this function diminished with the
development of the Court of Common Council. Today the full
Aldermanic Court, summoned and presided over by the Lord Mayor,
meets on about nine Tuesdays each year.
Aldermen have jurisdiction over their wards and for centuries
each ward has elected one alderman. Upon admission to the Court of
Aldermen, an alderman automatically becomes a Justice of the Peace
for the City of London. They also serve on Common Council
committees, act as governors and trustees of a variety of schools,
hospitals, charitable foundations and trusts with ancient City
connections.
The City's franchise
Ward boundaries review