New Orleans City Council

The Cabildo was the seat of Spanish municipal government in New Orleans established in 1769 and remained in place until 1803, when New Orleans was briefly turned over to France before the Louisiana Purchase.

• Cabildo records can be viewed on microfilm in the City Archives, and include the Acts and Deliberations of the Cabildo and Petitions, Letters, and Decrees of the Cabildo.
• View an itemized description of the Letters, Petitions, and Decrees from the Cabildo, Conseil Municipal, and Conseil de Ville, 1770-1835
• Original materials were recorded in Spanish; English translations and Spanish transcriptions are available. 
• Researchers should also consult the Digest of the Acts and Deliberations of the Cabildo to assist in their research.

Pierre-Clement de Laussat took formal possession of Louisiana for France on November 30, 1803 and established a municipal government for the city of New Orleans, composed of a Mayor, a Municipal Council of twelve members, and a Recorder-Secretary. The city was governed by these officers until March 11, 1805, when the new Mayor and Conseil de Ville were installed, as provided for in the 1805 city charter.

• Records for the Conseil Municipal can be viewed on microfilm in the City Archives.
• View an itemized description of the Letters, Petitions, and Decrees from the Cabildo, Conseil Municipal, and Conseil de Ville, 1770-1835.

On March 11, 1805, the new Mayor and Conseil de Ville, provided for in the 1805 city charter were installed, replacing the interim government established by Laussat in 1803. The Conseil de Ville had the power to make all laws and ordinances for the government of the municipal corporation and for regulation of the police of the city. It remained the city’s legislative authority until the adoption of a new charter in 1836. That law provided for separate municipality councils to govern various sections of the city, along with a general council that retained some authority over the entire city.

• Records from the Conseil de Ville can be viewed on microfilm in the City Archives.
• View an itemized description of the Letters, Petitions, and Decrees from the Cabildo, Conseil Municipal, and Conseil de Ville, 1770-1835.

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. (View the boundaries of the Municipality Period on Norman’s Plan of New Orleans, 1849). 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). Similar arrangements existed for fiscal agencies and for other offices, such as surveyors, attorneys, and police department. In 1852, the three municipalities, along with the separate city of Lafayette, were consolidated into a new government for the city of New Orleans.

Records of the following councils can be viewed on microfilm in the City Archives:

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

In 1852 the three separate municipalities were dissolved and the City of Lafayyette annexed to form the consolidated City of New Orleans with a new municipal structure composed of a Mayor and the Common Council, made up of a Board of Alderman and Assistant Alderman.

• Records of the Common Council, the Board of Alderman, and the Board of Assistant Alderman can be viewed on microfilm in the City Archives.
• Unfilmed materials should be requested according to the Materials Request Guidelines. 

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 legislative branch of New Orleans municipal government has operated under several official designations since 1866. The existing Charter of 1852 established a bicameral Common Council, consisting of a Board of Alderman and Board of Assistant Alderman, which remained in place until the Charter of 1870, followed by a new Charter in 1882 and 1896. 

• Records of the Common Council can be viewed on microfilm in the City Archives. 
• Following 1870, the records of the City Council are inventoried together and are partially available to view on microfilm in the City Archives. This includes Petitions made to the Council, 1905-1909.
• Unfilmed materials should be requested according to the Materials Request Guidelines. 

In 1912, New Orleans began a commission form of government with 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.

• Records of the Commissions Council are inventoried together with records of the City Council and are partially available on microfilm.
• Unfilmed materials can be viewed by appointment and should be requested according to the Materials Request Guidelines.

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. 

• Records of the City Council can be viewed by appointment in the City Archives. 
• Unfilmed materials should be requested according to the Materials Request Guide.