Legislative Glossary

Items of business or discussion to be raised at Council and Council Committee meetings.

At Council Briefings, information is presented to Councilmembers by departments or other agencies, and Councilmembers discuss issues before them in an informal setting.

At Full Council meetings, the Council formally acts on matters referred from its committees, or referred directly to Full Council.

Files that may include correspondence, reports, petitions, and agreements that have been filed with the City Clerk by elected officials, City departments, other government agencies, or the general public. See also the Guide to the Records of the City Clerk.

Special Committees that consider transitory issues of high importance. COWs are called by the Council President as issues arise.

Unanimous agreement on a course of action.

A proposed ordinance. See also the Guide to the Records of the City Clerk.

The room where the Full Council, and generally the Committees, transacts its business. The Seattle City Council Chamber is located on Floor 2 of City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, Seattle.

The Council has nine standing committees that meet regularly twice a month. For a list of committees and their meeting schedules, visit the Committees & Agendas webpage.

Report that presents the recommendations for final action by committees to the Full Council.

Report of a committee issued when the members of the committee cannot reach consensus on a recommendation to the Full Council.

Meeting, or portion of a meeting, that is not open to the public. The State Open Public Meetings Act governs when meetings can be closed to the public.

Law of the City passed by Council. See also the Guide to the Records of the City Clerk.

The presiding officer of the Council, chosen by Seattle City Council members.

A designated Councilmember acting on a substitute or a temporary basis.

Number of councilmembers required before business can be transacted.

A motion that allows the majority, within a limited time and without notice, to bring back for further consideration a motion for which a vote has already been taken.

A formal expression of policy, or the will or opinion of the Council. Resolutions are adopted by a vote of the Councilmembers.See also the Guide to the Records of the City Clerk.

A motion that allows the majority, within a limited time and without notice, to bring back for further consideration a motion for which a vote has already been taken.

A simple majority of the nine-member Council is five.

Committee of the entire Council, which enables the members to consider, in the informal atmosphere of a committee, issues that are complex, of interest to all members and/or cross committee lines.

A separate session held at a time different from a regularly scheduled meeting to consider one or more items of business.

A committee that has assigned responsibilities and limited authority to act; ordinarily exists to research, investigate and develop information regarding issues and matters to be considered by the Full Council.

Three-fourths of the total members of the Council. Three-fourths of the nine-member Council is seven.

Evenly divided vote; effectively prohibits adoption of an item of business.

Two-thirds of the total members of the Council. Two-thirds of the nine-member Council is six.