Boston_Board_of_Aldermen

Boston City Council (1822–1909)

Boston City Council (1822–1909)

Bicameral city council in Massachusetts, US from 1822 to 1909

From 1822 until 1909, Boston's legislative body was bicameral, with a Board of Aldermen that was elected at-large and a much larger Common Council that was elected from multi-member electoral districts (wards). This city legislature was replaced in 1909 with the unicameral body that is the modern Boston City Council.

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Description

Prior to 1822, Boston was governed by the Boston Board of Selectmen. Boston voted in 1822 to incorporate as a city and adopted the Boston City Charter. On May 1, 1822, the Boston Board of Selectmen ceremonially handed over the city to the new government consisting of the newly-established City Council newly-established mayoralty.[1]

Under this original Boston City Charter, between 1822 and 1909, the city's legislative body was bicameral. This legislature, known as the Boston City Council, consisted of a Board of Aldermen that was elected at-large and a much larger Common Council with members that was elected from multi-member wards.[2][3][4] This Boston City Council existed along with mayoralty that was established by the charter.[2]

When the Boston City Charter was rewritten in 1909, the Boston City Council was recreated as a nine-member unicameral body.[3]

Common Council

Presidents of the Boston Common Council

The Common Council was led by a president. The following table chronologically lists the tenures of individuals in this position:

More information Presidents of the Boston Common Council (1822–1909), Name ...

Board of Aldermen

Chairmen of the Boston Board of Aldermen

The Board of Aldermen was led by a chairman. The following table chronologically lists the tenures of individuals in this role:

More information Chairmen of the Boston Board of Aldermen, Name ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Boston Celebrates 200 Years". Boston.gov. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Boston (Mass.). Common Council | ArchivesSpace Public Interface". archives.cityofboston.gov. Boston Archives. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  3. [3]
    O'Connor, T.H. (1997). Boston Irish: A Political History. New York: Back Bay Books.
  4. [4]
    Devine, John. "Research Guides: Boston (City) Departmental Reports: City Council Proceedings". guides.bpl.org. Boston Public Library. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  5. [5]
    "A Catalogue of the City Councils of Boston, 1822-1908, Roxbury, 1846-1867, Charlestown, 1847-1873 and of the Selectmen of Boston, 1634-1822: Also of Various Other Town and Municipal Officers". City of Boston Printing Department. 1909. pp. 45–48, 57–183. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  6. [6]
    "The Common Council's President". Boston Evening Transcript. January 15, 1909. Retrieved 1 November 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. [7]
    "Curley Names Committees". Boston Evening Transcript. January 19, 1909. Retrieved 31 October 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. [8]
    "Chairman of the Aldermen". The Boston Globe. January 26, 1909. Retrieved 31 October 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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