St. Louis City Government 101
City Hall's Movers and Shakers
St. Louis is an independent city that is not part of any county. This makes it unique in Missouri and in the United States. It also shapes how our government is structured, how it raises revenue, and how services are delivered to residents.
Established as a city in 1822, St. Louis operates under its own City Charter, which defines the roles and limits of its government. Under that charter, the city has three primary branches of government: an executive branch led by the Mayor; a legislative branch called the Board of Aldermen; and a powerful financial body called the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, which sits at the intersection of both branches and controls the city budget and all major spending decisions.
The City is divided into 14 geographic wards, each represented by one elected Alderperson. A separate citywide election determines the President of the Board of Aldermen.
Alongside the Mayor, Comptroller, and other elected officers, these individuals are the people most directly responsible for the health, services, and direction of St. Louis.
The Board of Aldermen are the lawmakers of the City of St. Louis. It sets city policy, passes the annual budget, levies taxes, approves major city contracts, and conducts oversight of city departments and operations.
As of 2023, the Board of Aldermen was reduced from 28 members to 14 Alderpersons, one elected from each of the city’s 14 geographic wards. The President of the Board of Aldermen is elected separately in a citywide vote, serving as both the presiding officer and a full voting member. The Board meets weekly during session at City Hall.
To serve as an Alderperson, a candidate must be: a registered voter in the City of St. Louis; at least 25 years of age; a U.S. citizen for at least five years; and a resident of the City of St. Louis.
Aldermen sit on committees that review proposed legislation after a Bill is introduced and referred to them by the President of the Board of Aldermen.
The committees, led by their chairs, hold meetings and may schedule public hearings to gather testimony for or against the Bill. They then vote on whether to recommend that the full Board of Aldermen pass it.
The Board of Estimate and Apportionment — commonly called the “Board of E&A” — is one of the most powerful bodies in St. Louis city government. It controls major city spending, contract approvals, real estate acquisitions, and the city’s annual budget proposal.
Under the City Charter, the Board of E&A consists of three people: the Mayor, the Comptroller, and the President of the Board of Aldermen. These three officials collectively form the city’s executive body of finance.
Because all three members are independently elected, no single branch of government controls it. Each member can align with either of the others to form a working majority.
The St. Louis Board of Public Service (BPS) is a city government agency that is responsible for managing and improving public infrastructure throughout the City of St. Louis. It is the group in charge of making sure the city's roads, bridges, buildings, and other public spaces are built and maintained properly.
The Board is led by a President who is appointed by the Mayor, and it includes the heads of several city departments who meet together each week to make decisions. The BPS handles everything from planning and designing new construction projects to issuing permits for businesses and events that use public spaces. It is organized into different divisions, each with a specific job — such as planning new projects, managing construction, or taking care of city equipment.
