Research City Laws
The Seattle City Council has authority to create City policies and budgets in the form of Ordinances. Ordinances must comply with terms of the U.S. and Washington State constitutions, the general laws of the City and State, and the City Charter. The Council may also offer its collective opinion on matters in the form of Resolutions. Sometimes Resolutions are used to approve grant applications, set hearing dates or take actions that do not commit the City to expenditures.
Legislative Databases
The Legislative Databases, maintained by the City Clerk, index all legislation introduced to the City Council since 1869. The databases contain the full text of all legislation introduced to the City Council since 1996.
To use the Legislative Database, first determine whether you are searching for a Council Bill/Ordinance (law) or a Resolution (policy statement). The easiest way to find legislation is to know the bill number.
An Ordinance that has been introduced but not yet passed is called a Council Bill and is numbered from the CB series. Once passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor, a Council Bill is issued an Ordinance number from the Ordinance series. Be sure to enter the number into the correct field, as a Council Bill number entered into the "Ordinance No." field will not give you the correct legislation.
Another way to find legislation on the Legislative Database is to search by "index words," which scans title words, index terms, committee names, sponsors and other words associated with the legislation. You can also use the "title words" field of the database, which scans only words in the title of the legislation.
A search result on the Legislative Database may yield several pieces of legislation. Please examine the date of introduction or adoption to be sure you are reviewing the correct legislation you intended to find.
Significant Vote Log
The Significant Vote Log includes a brief summary and the final vote on selected legislation before the Seattle City Council. Items selected include those that have generated significant media and/or public interest, those for which the Council vote was not unanimous, and all votes on confirmation of the Mayor's appointment of City department heads and Municipal Court judges.
The log does not include all the details contained within any piece of legislation, nor does it include votes on amendments that may have been proposed to the legislation. The minutes of each meeting contain a record of votes on amendments. To view the minutes of the meeting at which the issue was voted upon, use the link to the minutes. To view the entire text of legislation identified in the Log, use the link to the identifying number of the legislation (Ordinance or Resolution).
Council Minutes
The Seattle City Council Minutes database contains the full text of Full Council meetings of the Seattle City since January 2001. Minutes are not official until they are approved at a subsequent City Council meeting. Full Council meetings are usually held on Monday. Minutes will ordinarily appear online by Friday after a Monday meeting.
Assistance
Each Legislative Database has instructions for use and tips for advanced use. For more information about the databases, contact the City Clerk's Office at (206) 684-8344 or by email.
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