Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis


The Board of Aldermen is the legislative body of the independent City of St. Louis, Missouri. The Board of Aldermen is charged with passing legislation, known as board bills, which after passage of the Board are sent to the Mayor to be signed into law. The Board serves as a check against the mayor in a mayor-council government model. The Board monitors performance of city agencies and makes land use decisions as well as legislating on a variety of other issues. The Board also has sole responsibility for approving the city budget. The presiding officer of the Board is the President, who is elected separately city wide.
The President of the Board is the second highest ranking official in the City directly behind the Mayor. The President sets the agenda and presides at sessions and meetings of the Board. The Board is made up of 28 aldermen representing the city's 28 wards. The Board meets in the north wing of City Hall in the Aldermanic Chambers.

Composition

The Board of Aldermen consists of one representative from each of the city's 28 wards; the body's President is elected separately by a citywide ballot. Like the mayor, Aldermen representing odd-numbered wards are elected in odd numbered years following the United States Presidential Election, while the President of the Board and the aldermen from even-numbered wards are elected in the off-years, terms are four years.
Proposition R, a charter amendment to reduce the number of city of St. Louis aldermen from 28 to 14 effective January 1, 2022, was passed by city voters on November 6, 2012 with 61 percent voting in favor; 60 percent was needed for passage.

Powers

By custom and tradition, an alderman has a great deal of influence over decisions impacting the ward they represent on matters ranging from zoning changes, to street resurfacing, to tax abatement to business licensing, etc.
By city charter, Aldermen are legislators. Aldermen introduce laws and legislation known as board bills that can become city ordinances which can impact the quality of lives of city residents.

Committees

The Board of Aldermen uses committees for a variety of purposes, including the review of board bills or proposed laws, and the oversight of the city's executive and administrative branch The appointment of committee members is formally made by the President, while committee chairmanship is determined by seniority. Committee Chairman preside over committee meetings and hearings. Traditionally, five committees are considered to be the most powerful and most influential; Ways & Means; Public Safety; Housing, Urban Development & Zoning; Streets & Traffic; and Transportation & Commerce. Each Alderman sits on at least three standing committees. The Board has the following standing committees:
To become an Alderman one must be a registered voter, twenty-five years of age, have been a United States citizen for at least five years, a resident of the city, and for one year a resident of the ward from which elected. The President must be at least thirty years of age and a city resident for at least five years.

Current members

List of Presidents

The President presides at all the meeting, preserves decorum and determines all questions of order. He or she also appoints standing and special committees and serves as an equal member of all committees. The President assigns bills to appropriate committees and refers bills, when ready, to the Engrossment Committee. the President directs action from the broad elevated podium in the front and center of the semi-circulate position.
Presidents
Louis P. Aloe 1917-1924
Walter J. G. Neun 1924-1935
William L. Mason 1935-1941
Michael J. Hart 1941-1943
Aloys P. Kaufmann 1943
Edgar S. Nicolai 1943-1945
Albert L. Schweitzer 1945-1947
Charles Albanese 1947-1955
Donald Gunn 1955-1959
A. J. Cervantes 1959-1963
Donald Gunn 1963-1968
James Noonan 1968-1969
Joseph Badaracco 1969-1975
Paul Simon 1975-1980
Eugene Bradley 1980
Thomas Zych 1980-1987
Thomas P. Villa 1987-1995
Francis G. Slay 1995-2001
James F. Shrewsbury 2001-2007
Lewis E. Reed 2007–present

Party Composition