Corporation of London
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The City of London Corporation (popularly known as the Corporation of London) is the municipal governing body of the City of London. It exercises control only over the City (the "Square Mile"), and not over Greater London. The City of London includes the Lord Mayor, the Court of Aldermen, and the Court of Common Council. It does not exercise authority over Middle Temple and Inner Temple, which are enclaves for law schools in the west of the City.
The formal name which the City was incorporated by is "Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London".
Elections
The Corporation, recently [rebranded] the City of London, was not reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, and with time has become increasingly anomalous. In 1801 the City had a population of about 130,000, but increasing development of the City as a central business district led to this falling to below 5,000 after the Second World War [link] (it is now rising again and is around 8,000). Therefore the non-residential vote (or business vote) became an increasingly large part of the electorate. The City of London (Ward Elections) Act 2002 greatly increased the business franchise, allowing many more business to be represented.
Voters
Eligible voters must be at least 18 years old and a citizen of the United Kingdom, a European Union country, or a Commonwealth country, and either:
- A resident
- A sole trader or a partner in an unlimited partnership or
- An appointee of a qualifying body.
Bodies employing fewer than ten workers may appoint one voter, those employing ten to fifty workers may appoint one voter for every five; those employing more than fifty workers may appoint ten voters and one additional voter for every fifty workers beyond the first fifty.
Though workers count as part of a workforce regardless of nationality, only certain individuals may be appointed as voters. Under section 5 of the City of London (Ward Elections) Act 2002, the following are eligible to be appointed as voters (the qualifying date is September 1 of the year of the election):
- Those who have worked for the body for the past year at premises in the City
- Those who have served on the body's Board of Directors for the past year at premises in the City
- Those who have worked in the City for the body for an aggregate total of five years
- Those who have worked for in the City for a total of ten years
Wards
The City of London is divided into twenty-five wards, or electoral divisions. Each ward may elect one Alderman and a number of Councilmen based on the size of the electorate. The numbers below reflect the changes caused by the City of London (Ward Elections) Act.
| Ward | Common Councilmen |
|---|---|
| Aldersgate | 5 |
| Aldgate | 5 |
| Bassishaw | 3 |
| Billingsgate | 2 |
| Bishopsgate | 8 |
| Bread Street | 2 |
| Bridge | 2 |
| Broad Street | 3 |
| Candlewick | 2 |
| Castle Baynard | 7 |
| Cheap | 2 |
| Coleman Street | 5 |
| Cordwainer | 3 |
| Cornhill | 2 |
| Cripplegate | 9 |
| Dowgate | 2 |
| Farringdon Within | 8 |
| Farringdon Without | 10 |
| Langbourn | 2 |
| Lime Street | 3 |
| Portsoken | 4 |
| Queenhithe | 2 |
| Tower | 5 |
| Vintry | 2 |
| Walbrook | 2 |
| Total | 100 |
Livery Companies
There are over one hundred Livery Companies in London. The companies were originally trade associations; in modern times, much of their role is ceremonial. The senior members of the Livery Companies, known as liverymen, form a special electorate known as Common Hall. Common Hall is the body that chooses the Lord Mayor of the City and certain other officers.
The Court of Aldermen
Wards originally elected aldermen for life, but the term is now only six years. The alderman may, if he chooses, submit to an election before the six-year period ends. In any case, an election must be held no later than six years after the previous election. The sole qualification for the office is that Aldermen must be Freemen of the City.
Aldermen are ex officio Justices of the Peace. All Aldermen also serve in the Court of Common Council.
The Court of Common Council
Each ward may choose a number of common councilmen. A Common Councilman must be a registered voter in a City ward, own a freehold or lease land in the City, or reside in the City for the year prior to the election. They must also be over 21, a Freeman of the City, and a British, Irish, Commonwealth or EU citizen. Common Council elections are held every four years, the next in March 2009. Common Councilmen may use the initials CC after their names.
The Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs
The Lord Mayor of London and the two Sheriffs are chosen by liverymen meeting in Common Hall. Sheriffs, who serve as assistants to the Lord Mayor, are chosen on Midsummer Day. The Lord Mayor, who must have previously been a Sheriff, is chosen on Michaelmas. Both the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs are chosen for terms of one year.
The Lord Mayor fulfills several roles:
- Chairs the Court of Alderman and the Common Council
- Represents the City to foreign dignitaries
- Heads the Commission of Lieutenancy of the City
- Chief Magistrate of the City
- Admiral of the Port of London
- Chancellor of the City University
- Trustee of Saint Paul's Cathedral
See also
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