Riga City Council

Riga City Council (Latvian: Rīgas Dome) is the government of Riga City, the capital of Latvia. It is located in the Riga Town Hall at the Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums) in the very heart of Riga.

The Riga City Council consisting of 60 councillors who are elected every 4 years is established on the basis of party factions.

The work of the Riga City Council is organized by the Chairman (currently Nils Ušakovs), deputy chairmen, the Presidium, City Executive Director, District Executive Directors and the staff of municipal institutions and enterprises.

The Presidium of the Riga City Council consists of the Chairman of the Riga City Council and the representatives delegated by the political parties or party blocks elected to the City Council.

The heads of Riga, representing the town inhabitants, were mentioned in documents already in 1210. It is unknown when the first town council was formed, but the members of the town council took part in signing treaties in Riga in 1225.

In the 13th century the town council governed the town and acted as legislature, but in the 14th century – also as a judicial authority. At the same time the town council managed the town protection problems, imposed taxes, represented the interests of Riga’s inhabitants in international relations, signed agreements and appointed ambassadors. However, a communal assembly of Riga inhabitants preserved a great role in settling important and extraordinary problems. In the first half of the 13th century the councilmen of the town council were elected for one year, but at the end of the century already the town council itself selected successors to councilmen posts. The post of councilman position actually became a lifelong post.

The rights of the town council were restricted after Riga became subordinate to the King of Poland and Lithuania, Stefan Báthory (1581).

...
Wikipedia