Council Period 18 Committees
Much of the work of the Council is done in standing committees and special committees. Committees are established at the first meeting of each Council period.
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Committee Of the Whole (COW)
Vincent C. Gray, Chairman
All Members
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Committee on Aging and Community Affairs
Yvette Alexander, Chairperson
Jim Graham
Mary Cheh
Harry Thomas, Jr.
Michael A. Brown
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Committee on Economic Development
Kwame R. Brown, Chairperson
Yvette Alexander
Muriel Bowser
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Committee on Finance and Revenue
Jack Evans, Chairperson
David A. Catania
Marion Barry
Kwame R. Brown
Michael A. Brown
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Committee on Health
David A. Catania, Chairperson
Tommy Wells
Yvette Alexander
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Committee on Housing and Workforce Development
Marion Barry, Chairperson
Phil Mendelson
Jim Graham
Harry Thomas,Jr.
Michael A. Brown
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Committee on Human Services
Tommy Wells, Chairperson
Muriel Bowser
Phil Mendelson
Marion Barry
Michael A. Brown
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Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation
Harry Thomas, Jr., Chairperson
David A. Catania
Phil Mendelson
Yvette Alexander
Kwame R. Brown
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Committee on the Public Safety and Judiciary
Phil Mendelson, Chairperson
Jack Evans
Mary Cheh
Muriel Bowser
Yvette Alexander
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Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs
Muriel Bowser, Chairperson
Harry Thomas, Jr
Michael A. Brown
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Committee on Government Operations and the Environment
Mary Cheh, Chairperson
David A. Catania
Kwame R. Brown
Harry Thomas, Jr.
Tommy Wells
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Committee on Public Works and Transporation
Jim Graham, Chairperson
Kwame R. Brown
Muriel Bowser
Phil Mendelson
Tommy Wells
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Organizational Structure
The Council is composed of 13 Members--a representative elected from each of the eight wards and five members, including the Chairman, elected at-large. The Council conducts its work through standing committees and special committees established as needed. Council staff performs legislative research, bill drafting, program and policy analysis, and constituent services. In addition, the Council is supported by centralized administrative, legal and budget offices.
To assist in its oversight, the Council appoints the D.C. Auditor who conducts statutorily required audits of government accounts and operations, and other audits as directed by the Council.
Member
To hold the office of Member of the Council, a person must be a registered voter, a resident of the District for at least a year prior to the general election, and of the ward if nominated for election from a particular ward, and hold no other public office for which compensation beyond expenses is received. A member is elected from each of the District's eight wards, and four members are elected at-large to serve a four-year term.
Chairman
The Chairman is the presiding and chief executive officer of the Council and is a voting member of all standing committees. The Chairman is elected at large to a four-year term of office. When the office of Mayor is vacant, the Chairman assumes the position.The Chairman Pro Tempore. The Chairman nominates and the Council approves by a majority vote the appointment of Chairman Pro Tempore who acts in the Chairman's absence.
Vacancies
Varying procedures guide the filling of a vacancy on the Council. If the position of Chairman becomes vacant, an at large member of the Council is elected by a majority vote of the Council to serve until a special election is held to fill the unexpired term.
If the position of an at large member who is affiliated with a political party becomes vacant, the central committee of such party appoints a person to fill the vacancy until a special election. If an at large member is not affiliated with any political party, a majority of the Council appoints a fimilarly unaffiliated person to fill the unexpired term until a special election. If a ward position becomes vacant, a special election is held to fill the unexpired term. Unlike an at large position, a ward vacancy is not filled until a special election. All special elections must be held within
114 days of the declaration of a vacancy.
Duties of the Council
As the legislative branch of local government, the Council enacts laws, approves the annual operating budget, and establishes and oversees the programs and operations of all District government agencies. To carry out its duties, the Council considers how a proposed law would affect citizens and the quality of life in the District, analyzes its fiscal impact and holds public hearings to solicit citizen comment. Council standing committees conduct oversight hearings on government operation. In addition, Members assist citizens in accessing government services.
Council Meetings
The Council meets in legislative session on the first Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. The Council meets in the Council Chamber on 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. Meetings are public, and agendas are available to visitors and published a week in advance in the Council's Calendar of the Week. Meetings are broadcast live on Channel 13 and vary in length depending on the agenda.
DC Auditor
Deborah K. Nichols
Phone: (202) 727-3600
Pursuant to the D.C. Home Rule Charter, the Chairman nominates and the Council acts by resolution to appoint a District of Columbia Auditor to conduct an annual audit of accounts and operations of the government. The Auditor serves for a six-year term.
Officers of the Council. The appointed officers of the Council are the General Counsel, the Secretary to the Council, the Budget Director and Policy Director. Council officers are recommended by the Council Chairman and approved by a majority of the Council.
General Counsel
Brian Flowers
Phone: (202) 724-8026
The General Counsel is the chief parliamentarian of the Council who advises the Council on legislative policy options and represents the Council in any legal action to which it is a party. The General Counsel assists the Members in drafting legislation for the proper engrossment and enrollment of measures. The Office of the General Counsel supervises publication of the D.C. Code which contains all laws of the District of Columbia. An unannotated version of the D.C. Code is available on-line.
Secretary to the Council
Cynthia Brock-Smith
Phone: (202) 724-8080
The Secretary to the Council is the chief administrative officer responsible for managing the operations of the Council. The Office of the Secretary is responsible for maintaining accurate legislative records and making this information available to the public. The Office of the Secretary publishes a weekly Calendar of Events which lists all upcoming Council actions and is available free to the public. In addition, all actions of the Council are published through the Office of the Secretary in the District of Columbia Register, the official publication of the government. The Register is published every Friday and a subscription can be ordered from the Office of Documents on 727-5090. Also, the Register is sent to the office of each Advisory Neighborhood Commission and is available for review at all public libraries.
Budget Director
Eric Goulet
Phone: (202) 724-8139
The Office of the Budget Director analyses the proposed annual operating budget and reviews the fiscal impact of all legislation and contracts before Council approval.
Policy Director
Susan Banta
Phone: (202) 442-6762
The Office of Policy Analysis (“OPA”) is a centralized office of the Council of the District of Columbia. The established mission of OPA is to provide comprehensive, nonpartisan, and objective research and analysis on defined legislative/policy issues to members of the Council, as requested. Its establishment serves to enhance and contribute to a more informed legislature, thus, inherently resulting in enhanced policy creation and development.