The city council is the legislative branch of a municipality or local government area. It varies in size and structure depending on whether the municipality has a mayor-council or council-manager government model and the nature of the statutory authority given to it by state law, city charter, or municipal ordinance. In some cities the council may also elect other executive positions such as a mayor or city manager.
Most of the legislative work of the council takes place in committee meetings and hearings focused on issues like human services, infrastructure and government affairs. Every Council Member is assigned — through a voting process by all Council Members — to one or more standing committees. These committees meet regularly and consider proposed laws, receive reports from agency representatives and hear feedback from New Yorkers like you on a range of issues.
The council, led by Speaker Adrienne Adams, has passed legislation aimed at tackling homelessness and the city’s housing crisis. It has also approved several bills aimed at expanding opportunities for low-to-moderate income residents including funding to expand child care programs and a new program to help former CUNY students complete their degrees. Observers point to the council’s override of the mayor’s veto of a package of bills expanding eligibility for housing rental vouchers as evidence of its commitment to accountability and oversight. But critics say the council could be more aggressive in its role as a check on the administration, for example by using its subpoena power to compel city officials to testify at hearings.