An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law with similar officials existing in the Netherlands (wethouder) and Belgium (schepen).
As in the way local councils have been modernised in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the term alderman has been discontinued in a number of places.
[3] Historically, in Canada, the term "alderman" was used for those persons elected to a municipal council to represent the wards.
In South Africa, the term alderman refers to senior members of municipal councils.
Although the term originated in England, it had no single definition there until the 19th century, as each municipal corporation had its own constitution.
This was changed by the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act 1910, so that outgoing aldermen were no longer allowed to vote.
[14] Councils in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland still have the power to create honorary aldermen and alderwomen, as a reward for their services as a councillor, but must do so at a special meeting, and in each case the granting of the title needs to be approved by two-thirds of those attending.
[15] This power is little used in England and Wales, but is used more often in Northern Ireland, where councils may also designate up to a quarter of their elected councillors as aldermen.
A "board of aldermen" is the governing executive or legislative body of many cities and towns in the United States.
[20] Historically the term could also refer to local municipal judges in small legal proceedings (as in Pennsylvania[21] and Delaware).