What does a Councillor do?

A councillor is a locally elected official who is a member of a governing council, such as a city or town council. When they are not actively working, councillors have a number of job responsibilities and also serve as civic leaders, providing guidance and assistance to members of their communities. In many cases, the position is part-time, with people being paid for attending meetings and spending time in the office, but not working full-time for the city, town, or other municipality to which they were elected. In the United Kingdom, the term “councillor” is commonly used, but in the United States, “councilor” or “councilmember” is preferred.

Each councillor is expected to read a variety of documents related to proposed ordinances, license requests such as business or event licenses, and so on. Councillors can also make proposals to the council, such as resolutions for a vote and new proposed ordinances. Staff members frequently assist them with research, drafting communications, and other tasks. A councillor in some areas has the authority to appoint other municipal officials, such as members of a local planning commission.

This type of work does not necessitate any special education or training. Communication skills are extremely beneficial. A councillor’s background as an attorney, police officer, or city government employee can be beneficial in understanding how government works and identifying a municipality’s unique needs. In order to count on constituents to vote in future council elections, councillors must be able to develop and maintain relationships with them.

On a local level, the council’s power can be extensive, with a variety of decisions passing through the council. While a councillor cannot break higher-level laws, such as writing a city ordinance that contradicts a county ordinance, they can do things like censure other public officials or pass resolutions to protest higher-level government activity. If constituents bring a matter to the council that it is not qualified to handle, they can provide information on how to contact other offices and elected officials.

Working as a councillor usually entails serving for a set period of time, after which people can choose to run again or step down. On some councils, the chairperson’s seat is rotated, and each member of the council will serve as chairperson or mayor for a brief period of time. Although new councillors are often given some guidance at first, they must know the rules of procedure for meetings.