Alderman - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition alderman

Definition :

Alderman [ealdorman, Ang.-Sax., fr. eald, old, ealdor a parent]. Originally the word was synonymous with 'elder,' but was also used to designate an earl, and even a king. The word is now confined to the class of municipal officers in a borough next in order to the mayor. The (English) Municipal Corporations Act, 1835 (5 & 6 Wm. 4, c. 76), which gave aldermen no special duties of any importance, enacted that they should be in number one-third of the number of the councillors, should remain six years in office (being twice the length of the councillors's period of office), and be elected by the councillors, but not necessarily from amongst the councillors; and this enactment is repeated by s. 14 of the (English) Consolidating Act of 1882; but the (English) Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 1910, provides that aldermen shall not vote in the election of an alderman or mayor. As to number, qualification and term of office in boroughs, see (English) Local Government Act, 1933 (23 & 24 Geo. 5, c. 51), s. 21. See MUNICIPAL CORPORATION; and as to 'county aldermen,' see COUNTY COUNCIL.