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Local government directory
Chicago, IL: council, meetings and contacts
Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the United States with about 2,731,585 residents, in Cook. Here is who governs it, when they meet in public, and where the agendas are posted.
City government at a glance
- Form of government
- Mayor-council
- Governing body
- Chicago City Council — 50 members
- Regular meetings
- Typically monthly, 10:00 a.m., Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St.
- City Hall
- 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60602
- Main information line
- 311 or (312) 744-5000
- Population (2025 est.)
- 2,731,585 (2020 census: 2,746,388)
- County
- Cook
- Planning body
- Chicago Plan Commission
50 wards, each represented by an alderperson elected to a four-year term.
Official links
- Chicago official website
- Chicago City Council
- Agendas, minutes and meeting video
- Cook County Board of Commissioners
- Chicago Public Schools
The bodies that decide things in Chicago
| Body | What it decides | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago City Council | Ordinances, the city budget, zoning changes, contracts, police and fire funding | Official page |
| Cook County Board of Commissioners | County budget, sheriff and jail, public health, elections administration, county roads | County website |
| Chicago Public Schools board | School budget, boundaries, calendar, curriculum adoption, superintendent | District website |
| Chicago Plan Commission | Rezonings, site plans, variances and long-range land use recommendations | City website |
Questions people ask about Chicago government
When does the Chicago City Council meet?
Typically monthly, 10:00 a.m., Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St. Always confirm the date and location on the official agenda before you attend, because meetings can be cancelled, moved or continued.
How do I contact Chicago city government?
The main information line is 311 or (312) 744-5000. City Hall is at 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60602, and the official website is https://www.chicago.gov.
How do I speak at a Chicago public meeting?
Find the agenda for the meeting, check the sign-up deadline (many cities close the list before the meeting starts), prepare remarks for the posted time limit — usually two or three minutes — and state your name, your district and your specific ask.
Open debates in Chicago
Should Chicago tax large employers per employee to fund violence prevention?
Chicago's council rejected a $33 per-employee head tax in the 2026 budget. Should the city revisit it? Compare revenue needs with hiring effects.
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