Amend Rule 41
Let’s increase City Council transparency! LWV Chicago is fighting for an amendment to City Council rules that would ensure legislative items are posted for the public to see and sent to all City Council members at least 48 hours before a City Council Committee meets to consider the items.
What You Should Know
Rule 41 of the City Council Rules of Order and Procedure allows the mayor and city departments to bypass the normal process of introducing items with their full text at a City Council meeting, where items then are referred to the appropriate City Council Committee for consideration.
In contrast to the normal process, often the text of such "direct introduction" items is not available to the public, and only a vague description of the subject matter is posted as part of the Committee (and then Council) agenda.
Further, during LWV Chicago’s Zooming with the Alder interviews, the League learned that the alders themselves often do not see the actual text of “direct introduction” items until shortly before the Committee meeting at which they are asked to approve those items.
Obviously, the existing rule leads to the opposite of good government and to a lack of transparency.
R2022-1116 would amend Rule 41 to require the text of direct introduction items to be publicly posted and sent to all City Council members at least 48 hours before a City Council Committee meets. Ald. Reilly (42nd) credits the League as the impetus for him and his co-sponsors to propose this rule change.
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