City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation, officially and legally the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, is the municipal governing body of the City of London, the historic centre of London and the location of much of the United Kingdom's financial sector.
Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London City of London Corporation | |
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Arms of the Corporation of the City of London: Argent, a cross gules in the first quarter a sword in pale point upwards of the last; Supporters: Two dragons with wings elevated and addorsed argent on each wing a cross gules; Crest: On a dragon's wing displayed sinister a cross gules; Motto: Domine Dirige Nos ("O Lord direct us") | |
Corporation logo: a stylised version of the arms | |
| Type | |
| Type | Local authority of the City of London |
| Leadership | |
Lord Mayor | Michael Mainelli since 11 November 2023 |
Town Clerk and Chief Executive | Ian Thomas CBE since February 2023 |
Policy chairman | Chris Hayward since 5 May 2022 |
Chief Commoner | Ann Holmes |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 100 Common Councilmen 25 Aldermen |
Court of Common Council political groups |
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| Court of Aldermen committees | Privileges Committee, General Purposes Committee |
| Court of Common Council committees | List
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| Elections | |
Last Court of Aldermen election | Varies – individual mandate, up to 6-year term of office |
Last Court of Common Council election | March 2022 |
| Meeting place | |
| Guildhall, London | |
| Website | |
| www | |
| This article is part of a series within the Politics of England on the |
| Politics of London |
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In 2006, the name was changed from Corporation of London as the corporate body needed to be distinguished from the geographical area to avoid confusion with the wider London local government, the Greater London Authority.
Both businesses and residents of the City, or "Square Mile", are entitled to vote in City elections, and in addition to its functions as the local authority—analogous to those undertaken by the 32 boroughs that administer the rest of the Greater London region—it takes responsibility for supporting the financial services industry and representing its interests. The corporation's structure includes the Lord Mayor, the Court of Aldermen, the Court of Common Council, and the Freemen and Livery of the City. The "Liberties and Customs" of the City of London are guaranteed in Magna Carta's clause IX, which remains in statute.