The City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County is the

legislative body A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known ...

of the combined government of the city of

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

and the county of Marion in the state of

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...

. The council was established as part of the consolidation of city and county governments, enacted by Unigov on January 1, 1970. The council is composed of 25 members elected to four-year renewable terms, each representing an

electoral district An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger state (a country, administrative region, or other poli ...

. The council is responsible for reviewing and adopting budgets and appropriations. It can also enact, repeal, or amend ordinances, and make appointments to certain boards and commissions, among other duties. Council offices and the public assembly room are housed in the City-County Building.

History

City Council (1832–1891)

Robert Bruce Bagby was elected as the city's first African American to serve on the Indianapolis City Council in 1877.

Common Council (1891–1970)

Nannette Dowd became the first woman elected to Indianapolis Common Council in the 1934 municipal election.

City-County Council (1970–present)

Following the launch of Unigov on January 1, 1970, members of the former Indianapolis Common Council and the Marion County Council were combined to form the first City-County Council. The council was composed of 29 seats: 25 representing geographic districts and four

at-large At large (''before a noun'': at-large) is a description for members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent a whole membership or population (notably a city, county, state, province, nation, club or association), rather than ...

. The first City-County Council election occurred on November 2, 1971. In the

2011 Indianapolis City-County Council election The 2011 Indianapolis City–County Council elections took place on November 8, 2011. All 29 seats were up for re-election, 25 districts and 4 at-large seats, on the Indianapolis City–County Council. Prior to the elections Republicans held a 15� ...

, Zach Adamson was elected as the first openly gay member of the council, representing District 17. In April 2013, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 621 which outlined several changes to city-county government, including eliminating the council's four at-large seats following the 2015 Indianapolis City-County Council election. The controversial bill was signed into law by

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Mike Pence Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician who served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 50th ...

. The

2019 Indianapolis City-County Council election The 2019 Indianapolis City–County Council elections took place on November 5, 2019. With all 25 seats up for election. Before the elections Democrats held a 14–11-seat majority. Primaries for the council were held May 7, 2019. Following the ele ...

proved historic. Democrats flipped six Republican seats to earn the party's first

supermajority A supermajority, supra-majority, qualified majority, or special majority is a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level of support which is greater than the threshold of more than one-half used for a simple majority. Supermajority ru ...

since the council's creation in 1970. Ali Brown became the first openly

queer ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the l ...

-identifying woman to serve on the council, representing District 5. Along with the reelection of Adamson, Brown was joined by fellow newcomers Ethan Evans (District 4) and Keith Potts (District 2), respectively—the most LGBTQ members in the council's history.

Composition

The Indianapolis City-County Council consists of 25 seats corresponding to 25 electoral districts apportioned by population throughout Marion County. Because the council is the legislative body for both the city and the county, residents of Marion County's four "excluded cities" ( Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport, and Speedway) are eligible to vote in council elections and are equally represented alongside Indianapolis residents. Every seat is up for reelection every four years. The head of the council is the council president who is elected by the majority party at the council's first meeting in January. Following the 2019 elections, Democrats expanded their control of the council with a 20–5 majority. This marked the first time in Indianapolis history that Democrats have held a supermajority on the council. The clerk of the council is SaRita Hughes.

Current members

Standing committees

Salary

Members of the council earn an annual salary of $11,400, plus per diems of $112 per council meeting and $62 per committee meeting. Ordinance stipulates that annual base pay is capped at 12 percent of the mayor's salary ($95,000). In June 2022, councilors approved revisions to the ordinance for the first time in more than 20 years, increasing the annual salary to $31,075, in addition to per diems of $150 per council meeting and $75 per committee meeting. The ordinance will take effect in 2024, following the 2023 Indianapolis City-County Council election.

Pertinent issues

*Scooters Removal/Regulations *Addressing Potholes *Improve Downtown *BlueIndy *Equity and Equality *Council Pay Raise

Former councilors

* Roger W. Brown (1972–1976) * Paul Cantwell (1970–1979) *

Jeff Cardwell Jeff Cardwell is an American politician from the state of Indiana. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as Chairman of the Indiana Republican Party.https://ballotpedia.org/Jeff_Cardwell Jeff Cardwell at Ballotpedia Cardwell r ...

(2008–2013) * André Carson (2007–2008) *

Ray Crowe Raymond Province Crowe (May 30, 1915 – December 20, 2003)Ray Crowe Obituary
Flanner and ...

(1984–1987) * Aaron Freeman (2010–2016) * Phillip Hinkle (1992–2000) *

Glenn L. Howard Glenn L. Howard (25 August 1939 – 2 July 2012) was a Democratic member of the Indiana Senate, representing the 33rd District from 1992 to 2009. References External linksIndiana State Legislature - Senator Glenn L. HowardOfficial governmen ...

(1975–1992) *

Blake Johnson Robert Blake Johnson is an American politician serving as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 100th district. He was appointed to the House on July 10, 2020. Early life and education Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts degre ...

(2016–2020) *

Cherrish Pryor Cherrish Pryor is an American politician from Indianapolis, Indiana. She is a Democratic member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing the 94th District since 2008. She has served as the Democratic Floor Leader since 2018. The fi ...

(2007–2008) *

John C. Ruckelshaus John Christian "Jack" Ruckelshaus II (January 4, 1930 – May 22, 2015) was an American lawyer and politician. Biography Ruckelshaus was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he attended Park Tudor School. Ruckelshaus served in the United ...

(1971–1975) * Jack Sandlin (2010–2016) * Scott Schneider (2000–2008) *

Beurt SerVaas Beurt SerVaas (May 7, 1919 - February 2, 2014) was an American businessman, publisher, and politician. He served as a US Naval Officer in China during World War II, after being recruited by Office of Strategic Services (OSS, now known as the CIA). ...

(1961–2002) * Mike Speedy (2004–2010)

Notes

References

External links

Indianapolis City-County Council
{{DEFAULTSORT:Indianapolis City-County Council City-County Council City-County Council Indiana city councils