Copenhagen City Council


The Copenhagen City Council is the municipal government of Copenhagen, Denmark, and has its seat at Copenhagen City Hall.
The city council is Copenhagen's highest political authority and sets the framework for the committees' tasks. The City of Copenhagen's government consists of an economic committee and six standing committees, each working in its own field.
The city council has 55 members, and is chaired by the lord mayor, who chairs the Economic Affairs Committee. The chairpersons of the six standing committees have the title of mayor. The lord mayor, together with the six mayors and six members of the city council, make up the Economic Affairs Committee. Unlike other Danish municipalities, the City of Copenhagen does not have deputy mayors, but a first and second vice-chair of the city council.

History

The forerunner of the Copenhagen City Council, the Council of 32 Men, was established in 1660. The assembly primarily consisted of high-ranking citizens. In 1840, the city council was established by royal decree, consisting of 36 democratically elected members. This number was increased to 42 members in 1903. Later, in 1913, the city council was expanded to 55 members.

Committees

The seven committees are:
  • Economic Affairs committee
  • Culture and Leisure Committee
  • Technical and Environmental Committee
  • Children and Youth Committee
  • Social Affairs Committee
  • Health and Care Committee
  • Employment and Integration Committee

Composition of the city council

Below are the municipal councils elected since 1909.

City council chairs

  • 1840–1840
  • 1841–1853 Lauritz Nicolai Hvidt
  • 1853–1858 Hans Peter Hansen
  • 1858–1860
  • 1860–1863
  • 1863–1873
  • 1873–1883
  • 1883–1885
  • 1885–1895 Peter Frederik Koch
  • 1895–1898
  • 1898–1907 Herman Trier
  • 1907–1909
  • 1909–1910
  • 1910–1912
  • 1912–1913
  • 1913–1917
  • 1917–1919 Anthon Andersen
  • 1919–1924 Thorvald Stauning
  • 1924–1925
  • 1925–1926
  • 1926–1937
  • 1937–1938 Julius C. Hansen
  • 1938–1942
  • 1942–1946
  • 1946–1962
  • 1962–1970
  • 1970–1976 Egon Weidekamp
  • 1976–1981
  • 1982–1986
  • 1986–1989
  • 1990–1993
  • 1994–1997
  • Since 1998, the incumbent mayor has been the permanent chair of the city council.