City Council Minute Books, 1816-1906 [bulk 1816-1875]

The Pittsburgh City Council is the legislative body of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The municipality was first incorporated as a borough in 1794 and then as a city on March 18, 1816. Under the provisions of the city's first charter, the legislature was a bicameral body consisting of a Common Council and a Select Council. Eligible voters included "freemen of the citizens of Pittsburgh, who have resided within the bounds of the city at least one year preceding the election, and within that time paid a borough or city tax." The voters were to elect by ballot "fifteen persons qualified to serve as members of the House of Representatives of this Commonwealth" to be members of the Common Council for one-year terms, and "nine persons qualified to serve as Senators of this Commonwealth" to be members of the Select Council. Upon election, the Select Council members divided themselves into three classes to serve one, two or three years. The Councils were given power to pass ordinances and to appoint officers for the administration of city business. The Common and Select Councils merged into one at-large council in 1911. In 1989, the at-large system was replaced with an electoral district system, whereby nine districts each elect one representative to serve on a nine-member City Council.