Philadelphia City Council was established as the legislative branch of Philadelphia municipal government comprising of seventeen members under the Home Rule Charter of 1951. Out of the seventeen council members, ten are elected from the district and seven members from the main city. All the members of Philadelphia City Council are elected for a period of 4 years. Regular public sessions are held every Thursday morning at 10 am in room no. 400 of the City Hall.
The standing committees of Philadelphia City Council are Committee on Rules, Committee on Law and Government, Committee on the Environment, Legislative Oversight Committee, Committee on Finance, Committee on Public Safety, Committee on parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Committee on appropriations, Committee on Streets and Services, Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities, Committee on Public Health and Human services, Committee on Technology and Information Services, Committee on Ethics, Committee on the disabled and the Handicapped, Committee on Public Property and Public Works, Committee on Licenses and Inspections, Committee on Education, and Committee
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on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless.
The President of the Council is the head of the Council and he is elected from among the members of the City council. All the sessions of the council are presided over by him and he also certifies the ordinances, petitions, orders, resolutions and petitions.
The functions of Philadelphia City Council regulate various types of public affairs in the city of Philadelphia and directly influence the quality of life of the citizens of the city. Only a Council member has the right to introduce a bill. Before the enactment of a bill it has to be referred by the President of Council. The bill is discussed at a public hearing and public meeting and reported by the committee.
For passing a bill the majority of votes of the members of Council is required. Only after the Mayor approves a bill, it becomes a law. If the Mayor vetoes the bill, the Council has the right to overrule the veto by a majority of two-thirds vote.
The Philadelphia City Council plays a vital role in the well being of the citizens.
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