The Charter of 1805 established a mayor-council municipal structure, with a mayor appointed by the governor for a term of one year. The council consisted of fourteen members-two from each ward of the city-who were elected for two year terms. The Conseil de Ville had the power to make and pass all by-laws and ordinances for the better government of the affairs of, and for regulating the police and preserving the peace and good order of, the municipality.

• Ordinances and Resolutions for the Conseil de Ville are available on microfilm in the City Archives. 

During the period from 1836 to 1852, the City was legally divided into three separate municipalities (the original French/Spanish city was the First Municipality, the newer “American” section was the Second, and the area to the east of the “old city” was the Third). While there remained a single Mayor for the entire city, most other functions were exercised by separate agencies within the individual municipalities. Thus there was a Council for each municipality (as well as a General Council with authority in matters not delegated to the specific bodies).

Ordinances and Resolutions for all councils from 1836-1852 are available on microfilm in the City Archives.

• General Council
• First Municipality Council
• Second Municipality Council
• Third Municipality Council

The Charter of 1852 created a bicameral Common Council to legislate the newly consolidated City of New Orleans. This consisted of the Board of Alderman and the Board of Assistant Alderman. Ordinances and Resolutions passed by the Common Council are referred to as the Old Series (O.S.)

• Old Series Common Council Ordinances and Resolutions are available on microfilm in the City Archives.

City government was suspended following the Federal capture of New Orleans during the Civil War in 1862 and did not resume until the end of the occupation period in 1866. The pre-Civil War municipal structure was than reestablished, continuing the Mayor/ Common Council system. From 1866-1870, ordinances passed by the Common Council are referred to as the New Series (N.S.).

• New Series Common Council Ordinances and Resolutions are available on microfilm in the City Archives.

The Charter of 1870 dissolved the Common Council and erected a new City Council. Seven administrators and a Mayor were elected by city-wide vote for a term of two years. Each administrator served as the head of a city department: Finance, Commerce, Improvements, Assessments, Police, Public Accounts, and Water Works & Public Buildings. The Mayor was not the head of any department, but served with the administrators as a member of the legislative body. He had no vote except to break a tie, but possessed the veto power, which could be overridden by five of the seven administrators. Ordinances passed by the Council under this charter are identified as the Administrative Series (A.S.)

• City Council Administration Series Ordinances and Resolutions are available on microfilm in the City Archives.

The city returned to the Mayor-Council form of government in 1882 with a Mayor elected for four years and a Council of thirty members, all of whom were elected by districts. Ordinances passed by the Council under this charter are identified as the Council Series (C.S.)

• Council Series Ordinances and Resolutions are available on microfilm in the City Archives.

The Charter of 1896 continued the Mayor-Council form of government but reduced the size of the Council to seventeen members. Ordinances passed by the Council under this charter are identified as the New Council Series (N.C.S.)

• New Council Series Ordinances and resolutions are available on microfilm in the City Archives.

With the Charter of 1912, New Orleans began a commission form of government consisting of a Mayor and four Commissioners elected at large for four-year terms. The Mayor headed the Department of Public Affairs, but assignments to the other departments-Public Finance, Public Safety, Public Utilities, and Public Property-were by majority vote of the Council. The Commission Council was the legislative body, and its acts were not subject to veto by the Mayor. It also appointed other top administrative officials and was responsible for preparing the budget of the city. In 1948 the Commission Council was reorganized to consist of eight members–the Mayor and seven Commissioners, each of the seven being elected from a municipal district. The number of departments was similarly increased through the addition of Public Streets, Public Sanitation, and Parks & Institutions. Ordinances passed by the Commission Council are identified as the Commission Council Series (C.C.S).

• Commission Council Series Ordinances and Resolutions are available on microfilm in the City Archives. 

The Home Rule Charter of 1954 provided for a Mayor-Council form of government with a chief administrative officer who is appointed by, and is responsible to, the Mayor. The Council, which is the legislative body, is composed of seven members, five of whom are elected from districts and two at large. Ordinances passed by the Council under this charter are identified as the Mayor Council Series (M.C.S.)

• Mayor Council Series Ordinances and Resolutions from 1954-1992 are available on microfilm in the City Archives.
• Beginning in 1994, City Council Ordinances and Resolutions are available online through Municode.