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'{{Short description|Member of a local government council}} {{Distinguish|Counselor (disambiguation){{!}}Counselor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Multiple issues| {{lead too short|date=January 2018}} {{original research|date=January 2018}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2018}} }} {{Legislature}} 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 [[Municipality|municipal]] or regional [[government]], or other [[Local government|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 == {{Main|Municipal government in 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.<!-- Unclear: This is either contradictory or lacks further clarifications. --> ==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: *'''[[Valtioneuvos|Councillor of State]]''': the highest class of the titles of honour; granted to successful [[wikt:statesman|statesmen]] *'''[[Vuorineuvos|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 (India)|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 language|Filipino]] (used even when speaking or writing in English): Sanggunian Bayan, Sanggunian Panglunsod and Sanggunian Panlalawigan, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.csc.gov.ph/sanggunian-member-eligibility|title=Sanggunian Member Eligibility|website=www.csc.gov.ph}}</ref> ==United Kingdom== All [[local government in the United Kingdom|local authorities in the United Kingdom]] are overseen by elected councillors. These include: #[[unitary authority|unitary authorities]] #[[county council]]s and [[districts of England|district]] councils #[[civil parish|parish]], [[town council|town]] and [[community council|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.<ref name=debretts>''Debrett's Correct Form'', pg 193, Headline Book Publishing 2002.</ref> 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.<ref name=debretts/> Councillors are typically elected as members of [[political parties]] or alternatively as independents. Councils may also co-opt unelected councillors to fill vacancies on a council where insufficient candidates have stood for election, although in practice this is rare outside parish councils. They are bound by a code of conduct enforced by standards boards. In 2007 the [[Electoral Administration Act 2006]] reduced the age limit for councillors to 18, leading to younger people standing.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 2006 |title=Electoral Administration Act 2006 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/22/section/17 |url-status=live |access-date=18 July 2022 |website=legislation.gov.uk |archive-date=18 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718153322/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/22/section/17 }}</ref> ===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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wuu2.info/salford-youth-council/|title=Salford Youth Council website|website=Salford Youth Council|access-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517042631/http://dartfordyouthcouncil.org/|archive-date=17 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Remuneration=== {{Unreferenced section|date=October 2014}} 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 [[out-of-pocket expenses]]. In addition, special responsibility allowances are paid to councillors who carry out more senior duties. The basic allowances and special responsibility allowances are theoretically paid to compensate councillors for time spent on council duties and are classed as salaries for tax purposes. Parish, town or community councillors may, since the [[Local Government Act 2000]], be paid for their services. 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.scot/policies/local-government/councillors-roles-conduct-pay/#:~:text=The%20basic%20annual%20pay%20for,(Remuneration)%20Amendment%20Regulations%202022. | title=Councillors' roles, conduct and pay }}</ref> These are often topped up by special responsibility allowances. ===Regional government=== The [[London Assembly]] is regarded not as a local authority but as a regional [[devolved government|devolved]] [[Deliberative assembly|assembly]] and its members are referred to as Assembly Members, not councillors. ==United States== '''Council member''', '''councilman/councilwoman''', '''councilor''', or '''councillor''' is a title for a member of a council used in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/08/07/spelling_spats_divide_city_council/ |title=Spelling spats divide City Council |last=Viser |first=Matt |publisher=The Boston Globe |date=7 August 2006 }}</ref> In particular, the title is used in the following cases: *[[City council]]s or [[town council]]s that do not use the title of [[alderman]] *[[Council of the District of Columbia]] {{Expand section|date=June 2008}} ==British Commonwealth== {{expand section|date=March 2020}} In [[Australia]], [[The Bahamas]], [[Canada]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Africa]], [[Botswana]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]] and other parts of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], as well as [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], a '''councillor''' or '''councilor''' is an elected representative on a [[local government]] council. ==Netherlands== In the [[Netherlands]], a member of the [[City Council (the Netherlands)|municipal council]] is called a ''gemeenteraadslid'' or ''raadslid''. Someone out of this group who is elected to serve on the municipal executive is called a ''[[wethouder]]'', which is usually translated as 'alderman' or 'councillor'. The Dutch word for mayor is ''burgemeester''. This is expressed in English as "mayor" or "''[[burgomaster]]''". The municipal executive is referred to collectively as the ''[[College van Burgemeester en Wethouders]]''. ==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 (disambiguation)|échevin]]''<!--intentional link to DAB page--> 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 [[Luxembourg]], an ''[[échevin (Luxembourg)|échevin]]'' ({{lang-lb|Schäffe}}, {{lang-de|Schöffe}}) is a member of the administration of a [[Luxembourg]]ian [[Communes of Luxembourg|commune]]. ==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 [[Hong Kong]], members of district councils are also referred to as councillors.<ref>[http://www.scmp.com%2Fnews/hong-kong/article/1246797/district-councillors-may-get-20pc-more-rent-subsidy ''SCMP''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121121641/http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1246797/district-councillors-may-get-20pc-more-rent-subsidy |date=21 January 2015}}</ref> Before 1999 the [[District Councils of Hong Kong|district council]]s were known as district boards, upon the abolition of the municipal councils (the [[UrbCo]] and the [[RegCo]]) in December that year. In addition, members of the legislative council are also referred to as councillors. From 1996 to 1998 the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|Legislative Council]] were known as "Provisional Legislative Council", upon the abolition of the [[Provisional Legislative Council|interim legislature]] in July 1998. ==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== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Parliamentary titles]] [[Category:Political titles]] [[Category:Local government in the United Kingdom]]'