Councillor
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A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or regional government, or other local authority. The title of a councillor varies geographically, with a name generally being preceded by their title (or the shortened version Cllr when written) in formal or council-related situations in many places.
Canada
Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unlike most provincial elections, municipal elections are usually held on a fixed date of 4 years.
Finland
This is about honorary rank, not elected officials.
In Finland councillor (neuvos) is the highest possible title of honour which can be granted by the President of Finland. There are several ranks of councillors and they have existed since the Russian Rule. Some examples of different councillors in Finland are as follows:
- Councillor of State: the highest class of the titles of honour; granted to successful statesmen
- Mining Councillor/Trade Councillor/Industry Councillor/Economy Councillor: granted to leading industry figures in different fields of the economy
- Councillor of Parliament: granted to successful statesmen
- Office Councillor: granted to leading university figures
- Councillor of Culture/Theatre Councillor/Film Councillor: granted to leading cultural figures
- Chamber Councillor: granted for successful officials in the field of local government
India
As per the Seventy-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of India, municipal governance in India is looked after by elected councillors who are members of either a municipal corporation (for cities) or a municipality (for towns).
The Philippines
Under the Philippine Republic Act No. 7160 (otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991), a councilor is a member of a local council that is the legislative body of the local government unit. They are commonly referred to as "Sanggunian Member" because the official designation of municipal, city and provincial councils is the equivalent term in Filipino (used even when speaking or writing in English): Sanggunian Bayan, Sanggunian Panglunsod and Sanggunian Panlalawigan, respectively.[1]
United Kingdom
All local authorities in the United Kingdom are overseen by elected councillors. These include:
- unitary authorities
- county councils and district councils
- parish, town and community councils
- The Common Council of the City of London(in which councillors are known as aldermen and councilmen)
According to Debrett's Correct Form the English title "Councillor" (often shortened to 'Cllr') applies only to elected members of city, borough or district councils.[2] However, there is no legal basis for this restriction and in practice the title is applied to all councillors at all levels of local government. Where necessary, parish and county councillors are differentiated by the use of a fuller title such as "town councillor" or "county councillor". The title precedes the holder's rank or other title, as in Cllr Dr Jenny Smith or Cllr Sir Ricky Taing, and for women it precedes their title of marital status, as in Cllr Mrs Joan Smith.[2]
Councillors are typically elected as members of
In 2007 the Electoral Administration Act 2006 reduced the age limit for councillors to 18, leading to younger people standing.[3]
Youth councillors
Youth councillors are also elected in local areas by organisations that are members of the British Youth Council, such as Salford Youth Council.[4]
Remuneration
Most councillors are not full-time professionals.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland most larger borough, unitary authority or county councils do pay them basic allowances and
In Scotland, since 2007, councillors have received a salary of £15,000, as opposed to a series of allowances. This rises annually and as of 1 April 2023 councillor pay in Scotland stands at £20,099 per annum.[5] These are often topped up by special responsibility allowances.
Regional government
The
United States
Council member, councilman/councilwoman, councilor, or councillor is a title for a member of a council used in the United States.[6]
In particular, the title is used in the following cases:
- City councils or town councils that do not use the title of alderman
- Council of the District of Columbia
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British Commonwealth
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In Australia, The Bahamas, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Botswana, Trinidad and Tobago and other parts of the Commonwealth, as well as Ireland, a councillor or councilor is an elected representative on a local government council.
Netherlands
In the
Belgium
In Belgium, a member of the municipal council is called a gemeenteraadslid in Dutch, and Conseiller Communal in French. Someone out of this group who is elected to serve on the municipal executive is called a schepen in Dutch or échevin in French. This is usually translated as "alderman" or "councillor" in English. The municipal executive is referred to collectively as the College van Burgemeester en Schepenen ou Collège du Bourgmestre et Echevins.
Luxembourg
In
Norway
In Norway, a member of the municipal council, kommunestyret, is called a kommunestyrerepresentant in Norwegian. The Norwegian word for mayor is ordfører.
Hong Kong
In
Turkey
Two types of councillor are elected in local elections held every five years in Turkey. These include 1,251 provincial councillors and 20,500 municipal councillors. Municipal councillors serve on the council of the 1,351 district and 30 metropolitan municipalities of Turkey, while provincial councillors serve on the provincial general council (İl Genel Meclisi).
References
- ^ "Sanggunian Member Eligibility". www.csc.gov.ph.
- ^ a b Debrett's Correct Form, pg 193, Headline Book Publishing 2002.
- ^ "Electoral Administration Act 2006". legislation.gov.uk. 11 July 2006. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ "Salford Youth Council website". Salford Youth Council. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ "Councillors' roles, conduct and pay".
- ^ Viser, Matt (7 August 2006). "Spelling spats divide City Council". The Boston Globe.
- ^ SCMP Archived 21 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine