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An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions. The title is derived from the Anglo-Saxon position of ealdorman, literally meaning "elder man," and was used by the chief nobles presiding over shires.

Although the term originated in England, it had no clear definition there until the 19th century, as each municipal corporation had its own constitution. It was used in England, Wales and Ireland, but was not used in Scotland. Under the Municipal Reform Act 1835, municipal borough corporations consisted of councillors and aldermen. Aldermen would be elected not by the electorate, but by the council (including the outgoing aldermen), for a term of six years, which allowed a party that narrowly lost an election to retain control by choosing aldermen. This was altered in 1910 not to allow outgoing aldermen to vote. Aldermen were finally abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 in 1974, surviving a few years later in Greater London. County councils also elected Aldermen, but not rural district and urban district councils.

Councils can still create honorary aldermen, often a reward for long service. This award is used much more often in Northern Ireland than in England or Wales. Northern Ireland councils may additionally designate a quarter of their councillors as aldermen.

In the Corporation of London, aldermen are elected for each ward, by the regular electorate, and until recently for life. To be a candidate to be Lord Mayor of London, it is necessary to be an alderman and to have been a sheriff.

In Scotland, the office of "baillie" bore some similarities.

Women can be alderman e.g Eileen Bosomworth

In the Republic of Ireland the title was used by the first person elected in a multi-seat local government ward. The Local Government Act of 2001 abolished the title as part of a modernisation of local government, and as such none of the Councillors elected in the local elections of 2004 hold the title Alderman.

Historically, the term "alderman" was used for those persons elected to a municipal council to represent the wards. As women were increasingly elected to municipal office, the term "councillor" slowly replaced "alderman", although there was some use of the term "alderperson". Today, the title of "alderman" is rarely used, except in some cities in Alberta and Ontario as well as some smaller municipalities elsewhere in the country that retain the title for historic reasons.

"Board of Aldermen" is the governing body of many jurisdictions in the United States. In these jurisdictions, the term is used instead of city council and its members are called "Alderman" or "Alderwoman". (for more see Jane Addams, Democracy and Social Ethics; esp Ch. 5)

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• Alderman's nerve
• Local government in Canada
• Local government in the United States
• Municipal government
• Councillor
• Mayor
• Naomi Alderman

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