Philadelphia City Council

Philadelphia City Council is the legislative branch of the city and county government. It passes ordinances, adopts the annual operating and capital budgets, sets tax rates within the limits of state law, and oversees departments through hearings. Its 17 members are elected on a partisan basis in the municipal election cycle, in the same years as the mayor.^[1]

1 Membership and elections

Ten members represent geographic districts (see Council Districts and Wards); seven are elected citywide. Under the Charter no voter may vote for more than five at-large candidates, so a single party can win at most five of the seven at-large seats and the other two go to minority-party candidates. The Working Families Party holds both of those seats as of 2026, and one Republican serves, according to Billy Penn.^[2] Members serve four-year terms with no term limits, but under the "resign-to-run" rule must resign to run for another city or state office (see Ballot Questions and Charter Changes). Elections are run by the City Commissioners.

2 Leadership

Members elect a President at the start of each term. Kenyatta Johnson, who represents the 2nd District, has held the post since January 2024. The President appoints committee chairs, assigns bills and acts as the main legislative liaison to the mayor. Other leaders include Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson and Minority Leader Kendra Brooks of the Working Families Party. The Chief Clerk's office manages records and the legislative calendar. See Council Committees and the Legislative Process.

3 Powers

Council's main powers are lawmaking, the purse, and oversight. It can pass ordinances on any subject within the city's home rule authority, approve the budget (it approved the FY2027 operating and capital budgets on June 11, 2026), and override a mayoral veto with 12 votes. New taxes need a majority of the full Council, which is nine votes.^[3] It reviews zoning and land transactions (see Philadelphia Zoning Code). It also holds hearings and can request testimony from city agencies.

4 Limits

Council cannot exceed the authority of the Charter and state law (see Home Rule Limits and State Preemption). It does not control the independently elected row offices and has no authority over state-created bodies such as SEPTA. Informal customs, especially councilmanic prerogative, shape how district members exercise power over land use. Ethics rules apply to members (see Board of Ethics), and members have been prosecuted in the past (see Political Corruption Cases in Philadelphia).

5 Reaching Council

Each member has a district or citywide office with constituent services staff, and Council posts meeting schedules, bill texts and hearing notices at phlcouncil.com. Residents may testify at committee hearings and stated meetings, typically by signing up in advance. Council meetings are open under the state's Sunshine Act (see Sunshine Act and Open Meetings).

See also: Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, Philadelphia City Budget Process, Democratic City Committee.

References

1. Philadelphia Home Rule Charter; Philadelphia City Council (phlcouncil.com).
2. Billy Penn, "How Philly works: a look at the city's governance," December 1, 2025; Wikipedia summary of Council composition and leadership (accessed 2026).
3. Philadelphia City Council, "City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2027 operating and capital budgets on Thursday, June 11" (2026).