How Local Government Works

A plain-language guide to how laws are made in New York City and New York State — and what the people in charge actually have the power to do.

NYC City Government

Who's in charge and what they can do

City ExecutiveZohran Mamdani

Mayor of New York City

Signs or vetoes City Council legislation
Controls the city budget (~$100B)
Runs all city agencies — NYPD, FDNY, DOE, DOT, and more
Declares local emergencies

Borough Executive

Borough President

NYC Borough

Reviews and advises on land use and zoning decisions
Allocates a small discretionary budget to local groups
Appoints members to community boards

City Legislature

City Council Member

NYC City Council

Proposes and votes on city laws
Approves or rejects the city budget
Holds agencies accountable through public hearings
Directs discretionary funds to local projects

NYC City Council

How a bill becomes a city law

A council member proposes a bill

Anyone can suggest a new law — a resident, a community group, even you. A City Council member takes that idea and turns it into a "bill," which is just the official name for a proposed law.

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The bill goes to a committee

The City Council has around 40 committees, each focused on a topic — housing, health, public safety, and more. The bill gets sent to the relevant one, where a smaller group of council members study it in detail.

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The committee holds a hearing and votes

The committee invites residents, experts, and advocates to testify publicly. Then the committee members vote. This is the toughest gate — most bills stop here.

Approved — goes to the full CouncilRejected — bill dies

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All 51 council members vote

The full City Council debates the bill and votes. It needs at least 26 votes — a simple majority — to move forward.

26+ votes — sent to the MayorFewer votes — bill dies

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The Mayor decides

The Mayor has 30 days to act. They can sign it into law, veto it (reject it), or do nothing — in which case it automatically becomes law after 30 days anyway.

Signs it (or ignores it for 30 days) — becomes lawVetoes it — goes back to Council

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The Council can override the veto

If the Mayor vetoes the bill, the Council gets one more chance. But now they need a supermajority — at least 34 of 51 council members must vote yes.

34+ votes — becomes law despite the vetoFewer votes — bill dies

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It becomes a city law

The bill is now part of the New York City Administrative Code — the official rulebook for the city. City agencies are required to follow and enforce it.

New York State Government

Who's in charge and what they can do

State ExecutiveKathy Hochul

Governor of New York

Signs or vetoes state legislation
Controls the state budget ($260B+)
Appoints heads of state agencies (health, education, transport)
Calls special legislative sessions

State Legislature

State Senator

NY State Senate

Introduces and votes on state laws
Reviews and approves the state budget
Confirms Governor's agency appointments

State Legislature

Assembly Member

NY State Assembly

Introduces and votes on state laws alongside the Senate
Originates all revenue (tax) bills
Has sole power to impeach state officials

New York State Legislature

How a bill becomes a state law

A legislator introduces a bill

A bill can start in either the State Senate (63 members) or the State Assembly (150 members). Any legislator can introduce one — ideas come from constituents, advocacy groups, the Governor, or the legislators themselves.

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Assigned to a committee

Just like the City Council, the bill goes to a specialized committee — education, health, finance, etc. — where a smaller group of legislators take a closer look.

▼

Committee holds hearings and votes

The committee can hold public hearings, request expert testimony, and amend the bill. They then vote on whether it continues. Most bills end here.

Approved — goes to full chamber voteRejected — bill dies

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The full chamber votes

Every senator (if it started in the Senate) or every assembly member (if it started in the Assembly) votes on the bill. A simple majority is needed.

Passes — crosses to the other chamberFails — bill dies

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The other chamber repeats the entire process

The bill starts fresh in the other chamber — committee review, public hearings, and a full floor vote. Both chambers must pass the exact same version of the bill before it can go to the Governor.

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The Governor decides

Once both chambers agree, the bill goes to the Governor, who has 10 days to act (or 30 days if the Legislature has adjourned). They can sign it into law or veto it.

Signs it — becomes state lawVetoes it — goes back to the Legislature

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The Legislature can override the veto

Overriding a Governor's veto is very difficult. Both the Senate and the Assembly must each vote with a two-thirds majority — that's 42 of 63 senators AND 100 of 150 assembly members.

Both chambers reach two-thirds — becomes lawFails to reach two-thirds — bill dies

▼

It becomes a state law

The bill is now part of the New York Consolidated Laws — it applies across the entire state and overrides any conflicting city or county rules.

How Local Government Works

A plain-language guide to how laws are made in New York City and New York State — and what the people in charge actually have the power to do.

NYC City Government

Who's in charge and what they can do

City ExecutiveZohran Mamdani

Mayor of New York City

Signs or vetoes City Council legislation
Controls the city budget (~$100B)
Runs all city agencies — NYPD, FDNY, DOE, DOT, and more
Declares local emergencies

Borough Executive

Borough President

NYC Borough

Reviews and advises on land use and zoning decisions
Allocates a small discretionary budget to local groups
Appoints members to community boards

City Legislature

City Council Member

NYC City Council

Proposes and votes on city laws
Approves or rejects the city budget
Holds agencies accountable through public hearings
Directs discretionary funds to local projects

NYC City Council

How a bill becomes a city law

A council member proposes a bill

Anyone can suggest a new law — a resident, a community group, even you. A City Council member takes that idea and turns it into a "bill," which is just the official name for a proposed law.

▼

The bill goes to a committee

▼

The committee holds a hearing and votes

The committee invites residents, experts, and advocates to testify publicly. Then the committee members vote. This is the toughest gate — most bills stop here.

Approved — goes to the full CouncilRejected — bill dies

▼

All 51 council members vote

The full City Council debates the bill and votes. It needs at least 26 votes — a simple majority — to move forward.

26+ votes — sent to the MayorFewer votes — bill dies

▼

The Mayor decides

The Mayor has 30 days to act. They can sign it into law, veto it (reject it), or do nothing — in which case it automatically becomes law after 30 days anyway.

Signs it (or ignores it for 30 days) — becomes lawVetoes it — goes back to Council

▼

The Council can override the veto

If the Mayor vetoes the bill, the Council gets one more chance. But now they need a supermajority — at least 34 of 51 council members must vote yes.

34+ votes — becomes law despite the vetoFewer votes — bill dies

▼

It becomes a city law

The bill is now part of the New York City Administrative Code — the official rulebook for the city. City agencies are required to follow and enforce it.

New York State Government

Who's in charge and what they can do

State ExecutiveKathy Hochul

Governor of New York

Signs or vetoes state legislation
Controls the state budget ($260B+)
Appoints heads of state agencies (health, education, transport)
Calls special legislative sessions

State Legislature

State Senator

NY State Senate

Introduces and votes on state laws
Reviews and approves the state budget
Confirms Governor's agency appointments

State Legislature

Assembly Member

NY State Assembly

Introduces and votes on state laws alongside the Senate
Originates all revenue (tax) bills
Has sole power to impeach state officials

New York State Legislature

How a bill becomes a state law

A legislator introduces a bill

▼

Assigned to a committee

Just like the City Council, the bill goes to a specialized committee — education, health, finance, etc. — where a smaller group of legislators take a closer look.

▼

Committee holds hearings and votes

The committee can hold public hearings, request expert testimony, and amend the bill. They then vote on whether it continues. Most bills end here.

Approved — goes to full chamber voteRejected — bill dies

▼

The full chamber votes

Every senator (if it started in the Senate) or every assembly member (if it started in the Assembly) votes on the bill. A simple majority is needed.

Passes — crosses to the other chamberFails — bill dies

▼

The other chamber repeats the entire process

The bill starts fresh in the other chamber — committee review, public hearings, and a full floor vote. Both chambers must pass the exact same version of the bill before it can go to the Governor.

▼

The Governor decides

Once both chambers agree, the bill goes to the Governor, who has 10 days to act (or 30 days if the Legislature has adjourned). They can sign it into law or veto it.

Signs it — becomes state lawVetoes it — goes back to the Legislature

▼

The Legislature can override the veto

Overriding a Governor's veto is very difficult. Both the Senate and the Assembly must each vote with a two-thirds majority — that's 42 of 63 senators AND 100 of 150 assembly members.

Both chambers reach two-thirds — becomes lawFails to reach two-thirds — bill dies

▼

It becomes a state law

The bill is now part of the New York Consolidated Laws — it applies across the entire state and overrides any conflicting city or county rules.