ELECTION OF THE LORD MAYOR AND SHERIFFS
Liverymen elect the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs each year.
The Lord Mayor is elected at Michaelmas 'Common Hall' on 29th September, and the Sheriffs at Mid-Summer 'Common Hall' 24th June at the Guildhall by Liverymen in attendance. All liverymen of one year’s standing, but not their spouses/partners, can attend to vote. The Lord Mayor must have served as an Alderman and as a Sheriff. The election is followed in November by a ’swearing in’ of the Lord Mayor at the Silent Ceremony in the Guildhall (which apart from the vow of the incoming Lord Mayor, is held in total silence), followed the next day by the Lord Mayor’s procession as part of the Lord Mayor’s Show. The procession concludes with a swearing of allegiance by the Lord Mayor to the Sovereign before the Justices of the High Court.
Election of Sheriffs
The office of Sheriff is the oldest civic office in the City of London - older than the Lord Mayor, and the two Sheriffs (Aldermanic and non Aldermanic) are elected annually. They are elected at 12 noon, on or around Midsummer's Day, by the Liverymen of the City who have gathered together at Guildhall – one of the two livery events called ‘Common Hall’ .
In the preceding Spring the Court of Aldermen carries out an appraisal process to identify the Alderman that will be supported for election to Aldermanic Sheriff. This Sheriff may proceed for election as Lord Mayor in a future year. The other Sheriff is usually not an Alderman and is elected at the same meeting as the non Aldermanic Sheriff.
The liverymen have two votes. It is traditional for the non Aldermanic Sheriff to be voted first and for the liverymen to use their second vote for the candidate supported by the Court of Aldermen. Once the elections are over many liverymen go to lunches in the livery halls, usually with their partners, at which the new Sheriffs might make an appearance. The Sheriffs then take up their residence in the Old Bailey where they undertake their roles.
Refer to the Parts One and Two videos in the YOUTUBE page highlighted in the link below for more information:
The Lord Mayor is elected at Michaelmas 'Common Hall' on 29th September, and the Sheriffs at Mid-Summer 'Common Hall' 24th June at the Guildhall by Liverymen in attendance. All liverymen of one year’s standing, but not their spouses/partners, can attend to vote. The Lord Mayor must have served as an Alderman and as a Sheriff. The election is followed in November by a ’swearing in’ of the Lord Mayor at the Silent Ceremony in the Guildhall (which apart from the vow of the incoming Lord Mayor, is held in total silence), followed the next day by the Lord Mayor’s procession as part of the Lord Mayor’s Show. The procession concludes with a swearing of allegiance by the Lord Mayor to the Sovereign before the Justices of the High Court.
Election of Sheriffs
The office of Sheriff is the oldest civic office in the City of London - older than the Lord Mayor, and the two Sheriffs (Aldermanic and non Aldermanic) are elected annually. They are elected at 12 noon, on or around Midsummer's Day, by the Liverymen of the City who have gathered together at Guildhall – one of the two livery events called ‘Common Hall’ .
In the preceding Spring the Court of Aldermen carries out an appraisal process to identify the Alderman that will be supported for election to Aldermanic Sheriff. This Sheriff may proceed for election as Lord Mayor in a future year. The other Sheriff is usually not an Alderman and is elected at the same meeting as the non Aldermanic Sheriff.
The liverymen have two votes. It is traditional for the non Aldermanic Sheriff to be voted first and for the liverymen to use their second vote for the candidate supported by the Court of Aldermen. Once the elections are over many liverymen go to lunches in the livery halls, usually with their partners, at which the new Sheriffs might make an appearance. The Sheriffs then take up their residence in the Old Bailey where they undertake their roles.
Refer to the Parts One and Two videos in the YOUTUBE page highlighted in the link below for more information:
ELECTION OF THE LORD MAYOR AND THE SHERIFFS
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