Taipei City Council Introduction
In the early years after Taiwan's recovery, to lay the foundation for local autonomy, the Executive Office of Taiwan Province announced the "Plan for the Establishment of Various Levels of Elected Bodies in Taiwan Province" on December 26, 1945. According to the "Organization Regulations of City Councils" and "Senator Election Regulations" published by the National Government, the Taipei City Council was established on April 15, 1946. Although the council was an elected body, it only had an advisory role at that time. After the National Government relocated to Taiwan on December 7, 1949, the local autonomy system did not operate under constitutional governance. On April 24, 1950, the "Outline for Implementing Local Autonomy in Various Counties and Cities of Taiwan Province" was promulgated to serve as the basis for promoting local autonomy in Taiwan, and the council subsequently entered the period of city councils under provincial jurisdiction. On July 1, 1967, Taipei City was upgraded from a provincial city to a directly governed city. The transitional period lasted until the establishment of the 1st directly governed city council on December 25, 1969, during which the temporary city council of Taipei exercised its powers. However, the legal framework for the autonomy of directly governed cities was not complete, relying instead on an administrative order - the "Taipei City Organizational Structures and Implementation of the Local Autonomy Outline" promulgated by the Executive Yuan on June 22, 1967. After the "Autonomy Act for Directly Governed Cities" was announced and implemented on July 29, 1994, the Taipei City Council received legal protection for its legislative, financial supervisory, and administrative oversight powers, truly implementing Article 118 of the Constitution, which stipulates that "the autonomy of directly governed cities shall be defined by law." To respond to the trend of decentralization between the central and local governments, the "Local Government Act," announced and implemented on January 25, 1999, integrated the norms for the autonomy of directly governed cities and provincial counties/cities, opening a new chapter in the development history of local autonomy in Taiwan. The Taipei City Council serves as the local legislative body, representing citizens in overseeing municipal affairs, with council members from various districts exercising legislative powers that reflect the diverse society. Through proposals, discussions, debates, and consultations, the principles of "majority rule with respect for minority rights" ensure that diverse public opinions become policies and laws that citizens collectively adhere to, thereby safeguarding the rights of local residents. In recent years, the council has focused on reflecting public opinion, supervising municipal governance, maintaining harmonious government-council relations, engaging in party negotiations, and facilitating city exchanges, while also striving to enhance the transparency of legislative information and e-governance efforts. It aims to monitor the city government through legislative oversight, encourage governmental efficiency, enhance citizen welfare, and improve the quality of life for citizens, fulfilling the responsibilities of the local legislative body. (Source: Taipei City Council)
