The City charter of 1846 created the Common Council and empowered it to appoint, and
at their discretion to remove, officers of the municipal corporation known as the
City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to April 1874, the Common Council for the City
of Milwaukee was constituted and organized as two separate and distinct boards: The
Board of Aldermen and the Board of Councilors.
The Common Council is the lawmaking body for the City and is composed of 15 members.
It exercises the policy-making and legislative powers of the City, including the
adoption of ordinances and resolutions, approving the City's annual budget, and
enacting tax collection and levy ordinances. The council also approves the mayor's
appointments of cabinet heads that direct the day-to-day operations of City
departments.
