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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.

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 and the newly-established mayoralty.

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. This Boston City Council existed along with a mayoralty that was established by the charter.

After the Boston City Charter was rewritten in 1909, the Boston City Council was recreated as a nine-member unicameral body.

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:

Board of Aldermen

Chairmen of the Boston Board of Aldermen

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (April 2023)

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

See also

• List of members of the Boston City Council

References

1. "Boston Celebrates 200 Years". Boston.gov. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
2. ^ "Boston (Mass.). Common Council | ArchivesSpace Public Interface". archives.cityofboston.gov. Boston Archives. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
3. ^ O'Connor, T.H. (1997). Boston Irish: A Political History. New York: Back Bay Books.
4. Devine, John. "Research Guides: Boston (City) Departmental Reports: City Council Proceedings". guides.bpl.org. Boston Public Library. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
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. "The Common Council's President". Boston Evening Transcript. January 15, 1909. Retrieved 1 November 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Curley Names Committees". Boston Evening Transcript. January 19, 1909. Retrieved 31 October 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Chairman of the Aldermen". The Boston Globe. January 26, 1909. Retrieved 31 October 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

• Boston City Council