Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COM'MON-COUN-CIL, n.

The council of a city or corporate town, empowered to make by-laws for the government of the citizens. The common-council of London consists of two houses; the upper house, composed of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen; and the lower house of the common-council-men, elected by the several wards. In most of the American cities, the Mayor, Aldermen and common-council-men constitute one body, called a Court of Common-Council. [The common-councils sometimes consist of two houses, chambers, or courts, (as at Norwich,) and sometimes form only one. The city of London is divided into 24 wards; the supreme magistrate of each ward has the title of Alderman: the 24 Aldermen, with the Lord Mayor, form the Court of Aldermen; each ward annually chooses a certain number of the inhabitants, who are sworn to assist the Aldermen with their advice in all public affairs, and they form the Court of Common-Council. – E. H. B.]