New York City Council#President of the City Council
{{Short description|Lawmaking body of New York City}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox legislature
|name = New York City Council
|coa_pic = Seal of New York City (BW).svg
|background_color = {{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}
|coa_alt = Seal of New York City
|logo_pic =
|logo_alt = Councilmanic Flag
|house_type = Unicameral
|leader1_type = Speaker
|leader1 = Adrienne Adams (D)
|election1 = January 5, 2022
|leader2_type = Deputy Speaker
|leader2 = Diana Ayala (D)
|election2 = January 5, 2022
|leader3_type = {{nowrap|Majority Leader}}
|leader3 = Amanda Farías (D)
|election3 = January 3, 2024
|leader4_type = Minority Leader
|leader4 = Joann Ariola (R)
|election4 = February 7, 2025
|leader5_type = Majority Whip
|leader5 = Selvena Brooks-Powers (D)
|election5 = January 5, 2022
|leader6_type = Minority Whip
|leader6 = Vickie Paladino (R)
|election6 = February 7, 2025
|members = 51
|structure1 = New York City Council Composition, December 2022.svg
|structure1_res = 250px
|political_groups1 =
Majority (45)
{{legend|#3333FF|Democratic (45)}}
Minority (6)
{{legend|#FF0000|Republican (6)}}
|committees1 = See standing committees
|salary=$148,500 (2024)|voting_system1 = First-past-the-post (general elections)
Ranked-choice voting (primary and special elections)
|last_election1 = November 7, 2023
|next_election1 = November 4, 2025
|session_room = City Hall Council Chamber pano.jpg
|meeting_place = New York City Hall
|website = {{url|council.nyc.gov|Official website}}
}}
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of New York City in the United States. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs.
The council serves as a check against the mayor in a mayor-council government model, the performance of city agencies' land use decisions, and legislating on a variety of other issues. It also has sole responsibility for approving the city budget. Members elected are limited to two consecutive four-year terms in office but may run again after a four-year respite.
The head of the city council is called the speaker. The current speaker is Adrienne Adams, a Democrat from the 28th district in Queens. The speaker sets the agenda and presides at city council meetings, and all proposed legislation is submitted through the Speaker's Office. Majority Leader Amanda Farías leads the chamber's Democratic majority. Minority Leader David Carr was elected to lead the five Republican council members on January 28, 2025, however the vote was disputed due to a quorum not being present.{{cite web|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/02/its-leadership-crisis-nyc-council-gop/402713/?oref=csny-skybox-hp|first=Sophie|last=Krichevsky|title=It’s a leadership crisis in the NYC Council GOP!!!|date=February 3, 2025|access-date=February 4, 2025|website=City & State}}
As of 2025, the council has 35 standing committees and 4 subcommittees, with oversight of various functions of the city government. Each council member sits on at least three standing, select or subcommittees (listed below).{{Cite web |title=Committees |url=https://council.nyc.gov/committees/ |access-date=21 January 2025|publisher=New York City Council}} The standing committees meet at least once per month. The speaker of the council, the majority leader, and the minority leader are all ex officio members of every committee.
Council members are elected every four years. The exception is two consecutive two-year terms every twenty years to allow for redistricting after each national census (starting in 2001 and 2003 for the 2000 census and again in 2021 and 2023 for the 2020 census).{{Cite web|url=https://nyccharter.readthedocs.io/c02/#section-25|title=Charter of the City of New York, Chapter 2 §25(a) |website=nyccharter.readthedocs.io}}
Composition
An asterisk (*) next to the election year denotes a special election. A double asterisk (**) next to the election year means the member took office after certification to fill the remainder of an unexpired term.
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col" |District !scope="col" |Member !scope="col" |Party !scope="col" |Residence !scope="col" |Borough !scope="col" |Elected !scope="col" |Term limited !scope="col" |Map |
1
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Christopher|Marte}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 01.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 1}} }} |
2
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Carlina|Rivera}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2017 |2025 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 02.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 2}} }} |
3
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Erik|Bottcher}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 03.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 3}}}} |
4
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Keith|Powers|dab=politician}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2017 |2025 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 04.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 4}}}} |
5
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Julie|Menin}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 05.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 5}} }} |
6
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Gale|Brewer}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 06.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 6}}}} |
7
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Shaun|Abreu}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 07.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 7}}}} |
8
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Diana|Ayala}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2017 |2025 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 08.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 8}}}} |
9
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Yusef|Salaam}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2023 |2033 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 09.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 9}}}} |
10
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Carmen|De La Rosa}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 10.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 10}}}} |
11
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Eric|Dinowitz}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021* |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 11.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 11}} }} |
12
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Kevin|Riley|dab=politician}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2020* |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 12.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 12}}}} |
13
!scope="row" |Kristy Marmorato |{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican |2023 |2033 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 13.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 13}}}} |
14
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Pierina|Sanchez}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 14.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 14}}}} |
15
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Oswald|Feliz}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021* |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 15.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 15}}}} |
16
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Althea|Stevens}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 16.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 16}} }} |
17
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Rafael|Salamanca}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2016* |2025 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 17.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 17}} }} |
18
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Amanda|Farías}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 18.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 18}}}} |
19
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Vickie|Paladino}} |{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 19.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 19}}}} |
20
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Sandra|Ung}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 20.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 20}} }} |
21
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Francisco|Moya}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2017 |2025 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 21.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 21}}}} |
22
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Tiffany|Cabán}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021** |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 22.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 22}}}} |
23
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Linda|Lee|dab=politician}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 23.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 23}} }} |
24
!scope="row" |{{sortname|James|Gennaro}} |{{party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic |2021* |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 24.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 24}}}} |
25
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Shekar|Krishnan}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 25.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 25}} }} |
26
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Julie|Won}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 26.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 26}} }} |
27
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Nantasha|Williams}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 27.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 27}}}} |
28
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Adrienne|Adams|dab=politician}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2017* |2025 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 28.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 28}}}} |
29
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Lynn|Schulman}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 29.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 29}} }} |
30
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Robert|Holden|dab=politician}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic{{efn|Holden was elected in 2017 on the Republican line, but is a registered Democrat.}} |2017 |2025 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 30.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 30}}}} |
31
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Selvena|Brooks-Powers}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021* |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 31.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 31}}}} |
32
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Joann|Ariola}} |{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 32.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 32}} }} |
33
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Lincoln|Restler}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 33.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 33}}}} |
34
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Jennifer|Gutiérrez|dab=politician}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 34.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 34}} }} |
35
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Crystal|Hudson}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 35.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 35}}}} |
36
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Chi|Ossé}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 36.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 36}}}} |
37
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Sandy|Nurse}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 37.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 37}} }} |
38
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Alexa|Avilés}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 38.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 38}}}} |
39
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Shahana|Hanif}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 39.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 39}}}} |
40
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Rita|Joseph}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 40.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 40}}}} |
41
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Darlene|Mealy}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 41.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 41}}}} |
42
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Chris|Banks|dab=politician}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2023 |2033 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 42.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 42}}}} |
43
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Susan|Zhuang}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2023 |2033 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 43.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 43}}}} |
44
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Simcha|Felder}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2025* |2033 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 44.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 44}}}} |
45
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Farah|Louis}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2019* |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 45.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 45}}}} |
46
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Mercedes|Narcisse}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 46.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 46}}}} |
47
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Justin|Brannan}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2017 |2025 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 47.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 47}}}} |
48
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Inna|Vernikov}} |{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican |2021** |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 48.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 48}}}} |
49
!scope="row" |{{sortname|Kamillah|Hanks}} |{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |2021 |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 49.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=yes |type=shape |text=District 49}}}} |
50
!scope="row" |{{sortname|David|Carr|dab=politician}} |{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican |2021** |2029 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 50.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 50}}}} |
51
!scope="row" |Frank Morano | {{party shading/Republican}} |Republican |2025* |2033 |{{hidden|Map|{{maplink|from=New York City Council District 51.map |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=150 |frame-height=150 |icon=no |type=shape |text=District 51}}}} |
{{notelist}}
File:New York City Council Districts.svg
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:right;"
|+align=center|Members !Borough |bgcolor=#dddddd align=center|Total |bgcolor=#aaccff align=center|Democratic |bgcolor=#ffcccc align=center|Republican |
scope="row" |Brooklyn
|2,648,771 |bgcolor=dddddd|15 |14 |1 |
---|
scope="row" |Queens
|2,358,582 |bgcolor=dddddd|14 |12 |2 |
scope="row" |Manhattan
|1,664,727 |bgcolor=dddddd|10 |10 |0 |
scope="row" |{{sort|Bronx|The Bronx}}
|1,471,160 |bgcolor=dddddd|7 |6 |1 |
scope="row" |Staten Island
|479,458 |bgcolor=dddddd|3 |1 |2 |
class="sortbottom" bgcolor=ccccdd
|align=left|Total |8,008,278 |bgcolor=bbbbcc|51 |45 |6 |
{{notelist}}
class="wikitable"
|+Council leaders !scope="col" |Position !scope="col" |Name !scope="col" |Party !scope="col" |Borough |
Speaker
!scope="row" |Adrienne Adams |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |
Majority Leader
!scope="row" |Amanda Farías |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |
Deputy Speaker
!scope="row" |Diana Ayala |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |
Majority Whip
!scope="row" |Selvena Brooks-Powers |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic |
Minority Leader
!scope="row" |David Carr |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |
Minority Whip
!scope="row" |Inna Vernikov |{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican |
Salary
Council Members currently receive $148,500 a year in base salary, which the council increased from $112,500 in early 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/nyc-council-votes-40-7-to-raise-members-pay-to-148-500-1.11435863|title=NYC Council votes 40-7 to raise members' pay to $148,500|last=Chayes|first=Matthew|date=February 5, 2016|website=Newsday|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705180511/https://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/nyc-council-votes-40-7-to-raise-members-pay-to-148-500-1.11435863|archive-date=July 5, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=April 28, 2020}} The salary raise came with new ethics guidelines and restrictions; most outside income is prohibited, and members no longer receive additional compensation for serving on committees.{{cite web |last1=Goodman |first1=J. David |title=New York City Council Votes to Raise Members' Pay |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/nyregion/elected-new-york-city-officials-vote-to-raise-their-own-pay.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=26 September 2024 |date=5 February 2016}}
Law
{{further|New York City Charter}}
The New York City Charter is the fundamental law of the government of New York City including the council. The New York City Administrative Code is the codification of the laws promulgated by the council and is composed of 29 titles.{{cite book|title=Gibson's New York Legal Research Guide|first1=Ellen M.|last1=Gibson|first2=William H.|last2=Manz|year=2004|edition=3rd|publisher=Wm. S. Hein Publishing|isbn=1-57588-728-2|lccn=2004042477|oclc=54455036|url=https://www.wshein.com/media/samples/5268.pdf|page=450}}{{sfn|Gibson|Manz|2004|p=458}} The regulations promulgated by city agencies pursuant to law are contained in the Rules of the City of New York in 71 titles.{{sfn|Gibson|Manz|2004|p=473}}
A local law has a status equivalent with a law enacted by the legislature (subject to certain exceptions and restrictions), and is superior to the older forms of municipal legislation such as ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations.{{cite book|title=Adopting Local Laws in New York State|pages=1–10|series=James A. Coon Local Government Technical Series|date=May 1998|publisher=New York State Department of State|url=https://www.dos.ny.gov/lg/publications/Adopting_Local_Laws_in_New_York_State.pdf|access-date=May 2, 2014|archive-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812192348/https://www.dos.ny.gov/lg/publications/Adopting_Local_Laws_in_New_York_State.pdf|url-status=dead}} Each local government must designate a newspaper of notice to publish or describe its laws.{{sfn|Gibson|Manz|2004|p=261}} The secretary of state is responsible for publishing local laws as a supplement to the Laws of New York (the "session laws" of the state), but they have not done so in recent years.{{sfn|Gibson|Manz|2004|p=261}} The New York City Charter, the New York City Administrative Code, and the Rules of the City of New York are published online by the New York Legal Publishing Corp. under contract with the New York City Law Department.{{cite web|title=About the Law Department|publisher=New York City Law Department|access-date=June 16, 2013|url=https://www.nyc.gov/html/law/html/about/laws.shtml|quote=The most important laws of the City of New York are now available on the web. The Law Department contracted with New York Legal Publishing Corp. for a site where you can browse and search the New York City Charter, the New York City Administrative Code, and the Rules of the City of New York.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622141732/https://www.nyc.gov/html/law/html/about/laws.shtml|archive-date=June 22, 2013}}
History
The history of the New York City Council can be traced to Dutch Colonial times when New York City was known as New Amsterdam. On February 2, 1653, the town of New Amsterdam, founded on the southern tip of Manhattan Island in 1625, was incorporated as a city under a charter issued by the Dutch West India Company. A Council of Legislators sat as the local lawmaking body and as a court of inferior jurisdiction. During the 18th and 19th centuries the local legislature was called the Common Council and then the Board of Aldermen. In 1898 the amalgamation charter of the City of Greater New York renamed and revamped the council and added a New York City Board of Estimate with certain administrative and financial powers. After a number of changes through the ensuing years, the present Council was born in 1938 under a new charter which instituted the council as the sole legislative body and the New York City Board of Estimate as the chief administrative body. Certain functions of the council, however, remained subject to the approval of the board.
In 1938, a system of proportional representation known as single transferable vote was adopted; a fixed quota of 75,000 votes was set, so that the size of the council fluctuated with voter turnout.{{HathiTrust |htid=mdp.39015082604532 |title=Proposed Charter for the City of New York}} (Chapter 43 §1007:g) The term was extended to four years in 1945 to coincide with the term of the mayor. Proportional representation was abolished in 1947, largely from pressure from Democrats, who played on fears of Communist council members being elected (two already had).{{cite web|last=Amy|first=Douglas J.|title=A Brief History of Proportional Representation in the United States|url=https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/polit/damy/articles/Brief%20History%20of%20PR.htm|access-date=April 30, 2014|year=1996}} It was replaced by a system of electing one Council Member from each New York State Senate district within the city. The Charter also provided for the election of two Council Members-at-large from each of the five boroughs. In June 1983, however, a federal court ruled that the 10 at-large seats violated the United States Constitution's one-person, one-vote mandate.Andrews v. Koch, 528 F.Supp. 246 (1981), aff’d sub nom., Giacobbe v. Andrews, 459 U.S. 801 (1982).
In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that the Board of Estimate also violated the one-person, one-vote mandate. In response, the new Charter abolished the Board of Estimate and provided for the redrawing of the council district lines to increase minority representation on the council. It also increased the number of Council Members from 35 to 51. The council was then granted full power over the municipal budget, as well as authority over zoning, land use and franchises. In 1993 the New York City Council voted to rename the position of president of the city council to the Public Advocate. As the presiding officer, the Public Advocate was an ex officio member of all committees in the council, and in that capacity had the right to introduce and co-sponsor legislation.{{cite web|title=The Role of the Public Advocate|url=https://archive.advocate.nyc.gov/role-public-advocate|publisher=Office of NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio|access-date=April 28, 2020}} However the city charter revision of 2002 transferred the duties of presiding officer from the Public Advocate to the Council Speaker; the Public Advocate remains a non-voting member of the council.{{cite web|last=Cardwell|first=Diane|title=Betsy Gotbaum, the Advocate, Struggles to Reach Her Public|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/02/nyregion/betsy-gotbaum-the-advocate-struggles-to-reach-her-public.html|work=The New York Times|date=December 2, 2002|access-date=April 28, 2020}}
In 2022, the composition of first female majority City Council{{Cite book |last=Rosner |first=Molly |url=https://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/pages/FileBrowser.aspx?LinkToFile=FILES_DOC/EDUCATION_PROGRAMS_FILES/Publications/Making_it_here.pdf |title=Making It Here: A Publication in Honor of the First Female Majority in New York City Government |publisher=LaGuardia and Wagner Archives |year=2022 |location=Long Island City, New York}} included the first Muslim woman, the first South Asian members, and the first openly gay Black woman.{{Cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=Gwynne |last2=Cruz |first2=David |date=2021-07-07 |title=The Next City Council Set To Be Most Diverse, Progressive, And Hold First-Ever Female Majority |url=https://gothamist.com/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Gothamist |language=en}}
=Term limits=
A two-term limit was imposed on city council members and citywide elected officials in a 1993 referendum. The movement to introduce term limits was led by Ronald Lauder, the heir to the Estée Lauder fortune. In 1996, voters turned down a council proposal to extend term limits. Lauder spent $4 million on the two referendums.
However, in 2008, under pressure from Mayor Michael Bloomberg (who, like many Council members, was facing the end of his two-term limit at that time), the council voted 29–22 to extend the limit to three terms; the council also defeated (by a vote of 22–28, with one abstention) a proposal to submit the issue to public referendum.{{cite web|url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/council-to-debate-term-limits-changee|title=Council Votes, 29 to 22, to Extend Term Limits|last1=Chan|first2=Sewell|last2=Hicks|first1=Jonathan P.|date=October 23, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 28, 2020}}
Legal challenges to the extension of term limits failed in federal court. The original decision by Judge Charles Sifton of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) was upheld by a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Vermont, Connecticut and New York), and a proposal in the New York State Legislature to override the extension was not passed.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/nyregion/24whatsnext.html|title=The Future of Term Limits Is in Court|last1=Santos|first1=Fernanda|date=October 24, 2008|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 28, 2020}}, p. A24{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/nyregion/14termlimits.html|title=Judge Rejects Suit Over Term Limits|last1=Santos|first1=Fernanda|date=January 14, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 28, 2020}}, p. A26[https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/appeals-court-upholds-term-limits-revision Appeals Court Upholds Term Limits Revision], New York Times City Room Blog, April 28, 2009 (retrieved July 6, 2009).
Voters voted to reinstate the two-term limit law in another referendum in 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/nyregion/03limits.html|title=Once Again, City Voters Approve Term Limits|last1=Fernandez|first1=Javier C|date=November 3, 2010|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 28, 2020}} However, according to The New York Times, incumbent members of the city council who were elected prior to the 2010 referendum "will still be allowed to run for a third term. People in office before 2010 were eligible for three terms."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/nyregion/03limits.html|title=Once Again, City Voters Approve Term Limits|last=Hernandez|first=Javier|date=November 3, 2010|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2018}}
Presiding officers since 1898
Through several changes in title and duties, this person has been, together with the Mayor and City Comptroller, one of the three municipal officers directly elected by all of the city's voters, and also the person who—when the elected mayor resigns, dies, or otherwise loses the ability to serve—becomes acting mayor until the next special or regular election.{{cite web|title=New York City Charter, ch. 1, §10|url=https://www.nyc.gov/html/records/pdf/section%201133_citycharter.pdf|website=nyc.gov|publisher=City of New York|access-date=August 19, 2016}}
Until 1989, these three officers, together with the five borough presidents, constituted the New York City Board of Estimate. Political campaigns have traditionally tried to balance their candidates for these three offices to appeal as wide a range of the city's political, geographical, social, ethnic and religious constituencies as possible (and, when possible, to both genders).
=Notes=
a. Became acting mayor upon the death or resignation of the elected mayor.
b. Later won election as mayor.
c. Unsuccessful candidate for mayor in a subsequent general election.
d. Not elected by citywide popular vote (Ardolph Kline had been elected deputy president by his fellow aldermen, and then succeeded as president upon Mitchel's resignation).
Standing committees
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- Committee on Aging (Chair: Crystal Hudson)
- Subcommittee on Senior Centers and Food Insecurity (Chair: Darlene Mealy)
- Committee on Children and Youth (Chair: Althea Stevens)
- Committee on Civil and Human Rights (Chair: Nantasha Williams)
- Committee on Civil Service and Labor (Chair: Carmen De La Rosa)
- Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection (Chair: Julie Menin)
- Committee on Contracts (Chair: Julie Won)
- Committee on Criminal Justice (Chair: Sandy Nurse)
- Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries & International Intergroup Relations (Chair: Carlina Rivera)
- Committee on Economic Development (Chair: Amanda Farías)
- Committee on Education (Chair: Rita Joseph)
- Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency & Waterfronts (Chair: James F. Gennaro)
- Committee on Finance (Chair: Justin Brannan)
- Committee on Fire & Emergency Management (Chair: Joann Ariola)
- Committee on General Welfare (Chair: Diana Ayala)
- Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation (Chair: Lincoln Restler)
- Committee on Health (Chair: Lynn Schulman)
- Subcommittee on COVID & Infectious Diseases (Chair: Francisco Moya)
- Committee on Higher Education (Chair: Eric Dinowitz)
- Committee on Hospitals (Chair: Mercedes Narcisse)
- Committee on Housing and Buildings (Chair: Pierina Sanchez)
- Committee on Immigration (Chair: Alexa Avilés)
- Committee on Land Use (Chair: Rafael Salamanca)
- Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sitings, and Dispositions (Chair: Kamillah Hanks)
- Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises (Chair: Kevin Riley)
- Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addictions (Chair: Linda Lee)
- Committee on Oversight and Investigations (Chair: Gale Brewer)
- Committee on Parks and Recreation (Chair: Shekar Krishnan)
- Committee on Public Housing (Chair: Chris Banks)
- Committee on Public Safety (Chair: Yusef Salaam)
- Committee on Rules, Privileges and Elections (Chair: Keith Powers)
- Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management (Chair: Shaun Abreu)
- Committee on Small Business (Chair: Oswald Feliz)
- Committee on Standards and Ethics (Chair: Sandra Ung)
- Committee on Technology (Chair: Jennifer Gutiérrez)
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Chair: Selvena Brooks-Powers)
- Committee on Veterans (Chair: Robert F. Holden)
- Committee on Women and Gender Equity (Chair: Farah Louis)
- Taskforce to Combat Hate (Co-chairs: Eric Dinowitz and Shahana Hanif)
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Caucuses
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|New York City Council}}
- [https://council.nyc.gov New York City Council main page]
- [https://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/COLLECTIONS.aspx?ViwType=1&ColID=5 La Guardia and Wagner Archives/The Council of the City of New York Collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808120240/https://www.laguardiawagnerarchive.lagcc.cuny.edu/COLLECTIONS.aspx?ViwType=1&ColID=5 |date=August 8, 2012 }}
- David W. Chen, [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/nyregion/25termlimits.html Council Gets a Charge From Vote on Term Limits], New York Times, New York edition, October 25, 2008, page A18, retrieved the same day. (Discusses changes in the council's degree of independence and authority in relation to the mayor's powers.)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180806160209/https://nysgo.com/ NYS Go]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170524170211/https://new-york-forum.com/ New York Forum]
- [https://www.councilpedia.org/index.php?title=Councilpedia_Home Councilpedia], a Wiki about the city council (inactive since January 2013)
- [https://www.amlegal.com/codes/client/new-york-city_ny/ New York City Charter, the New York City Administrative Code, and the Rules of the City of New York] from the New York Legal Publishing Corp.
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{{New York City Government}}
{{New York City}}
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Category:Citywide elected offices of New York City
Category:New York (state) city councils