Detroit Common Council
| Detroit City Council | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| History | |
| Founded | 1824 (as the Common Council) |
| Leadership | |
|
President
|
Brenda Jones
|
|
President Pro-Tempore
|
|
| Structure | |
| Seats | 7 districts 2 at-large |
| Council committees | Budget and Finance, Neighborhood and Community Services, Human Resources, Law and Public Safety, Planning and Economic Development |
| Elections | |
|
Council last election
|
November 5, 2013 |
| Motto | |
| Speramus Meliora, Resurget Cineribus (We hope for better things, It will rise from the ashes) |
|
| Meeting place | |
| 13th floor, Coleman A. Young Municipal Building | |
| Website | |
| www |
|
The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The full-time council is required to meet every business day for at least 10 months of the year, with at least eight of these meetings occurring at a location besides city hall. The council may convene for special meetings at the call of the mayor or at least four members of council.
The City Council was first constituted as the legislative body of the city in 1824, and was called the Common Council until July 1, 1974. Prior to 1918, the council was elected from city wards. However, starting in 1918, all city council members were elected at large, unusual for a city of Detroit's size. On November 4, 2009, city voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum to once again elect most of the council by districts beginning in 2013, while allowing for two at-large seats.
The council is composed of nine members, seven of which are elected from single-member districts of approximately equal population, with two additional members elected at-large. The council includes two officers, the president and president pro tempore, who are elected from amongst the members of the council at the beginning of each new session of the body for four years terms. The officers can be removed by a unanimous vote of council exclusive of the member being removed during any session meeting. Elections to the body are officially non-partisan.
A major overhaul of Detroit City Charter took place in 2012. This change moved to election by district for 7 districts and 2 at-large positions.
a. At-large Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins, first elected in 2009, resigned her seat in October 2014.
b. Janee Ayers appointed by a vote of City Council 6-2 began serving office on February 17, 2015.
Castañeda-López is the city's first Hispanic council member.
The council has five standing committees:
The council is granted the power to form additional committees at its own discretion
If a vacancy occurs on the city council, it is filled by appointment of the city council based on a two-thirds vote of its existing members. The appointee serves until the next general election. However, the seat remains vacant if the vacancy occurs fewer than 180 days before the next general election.
Starting in 1919, nine Detroit City Council members were elected at large. Members of the council, from 1919 to the present, are:
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Wikipedia