Seattle City Council

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The Seattle City Council, the 9-member legislative body of Seattle, Washington, consists of nine members elected at large. Each member's term is four years, and there are no limits on the number of terms a member may serve.

Election of city council members occur on odd-numbered years, with either 4 or 5 councilmembers up for election based on position number. The 4 even-numbered positions are up for election November 8, 2009. The 5 odd-numbered positions are up for election November 6, 2011. All councilmembers' terms begin January 1.

Based on the results of the November 2007 elections, the makeup of the council after January 1, 2008 will be:

Even-numbered positions

Odd-numbered positions

The council positions are officially non-partisan, and the ballot gives no party designations. However, all current councilmembers are avowed Democrats.

Contents

[edit] Council president

The Seattle City Council picks amongst its peers a council president to serve a 2-year term, beginning January 1 of the year following an election. The function of the council president is to serve as the official head of the city's legislative department. In addition, he/she is tasked with:

  • Establishing of committees and appointment of committee chairs and members.
  • Presiding over meetings of the full council.
  • Assuming the duties and responsibilities of Mayor if the Mayor is absent or incapacitated.

[edit] History

The present council structure of nine at-large members dates from 1911. Prior to 1896, the city's legislative branch consisted of two houses: a house of delegates and a board of aldermen. The 1896 charter provided for a unicameral council, with one member from each of the city's 14 wards and four members elected at large, for a total of 18. In 1911, the size of the council was halved, and all seats came to be elected at large;[1] this arrangement survives nearly a century later.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ S. E. Fleming, Civics (supplement): Seattle King County, Seattle Public Schools, 1919, p. 10.

[edit] External links


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