Moving to a political epicenter like Madison can be simultaneously exciting and overwhelming for incoming University of Wisconsin freshmen.

Along with state government, Madison has an active and sometimes controversial city government that often impacts the lives of UW students.

For many incoming freshmen, the pages of The Badger Herald may seem to be filled with detailed and sometimes confusing information about city government.

However, Madison’s city government makes many important decisions about issues very relevant to students, ranging from alcohol policy to construction throughout the city.

Below find a brief crash course on city politics which can help all incoming freshmen understand city politics and the role UW students play on a city-wide scale.

City Council

Madison’s Common Council, more commonly known as the City Council, makes major legislative decisions about issues facing the city.

Residents from 20 districts elect alders to represent their districts for two-year terms, during which they vote on decisions regarding the city budget, construction projects, liquor licenses, economic development and many other issues.

The council is non-partisan and often votes in line with recommendations from the city’s various committees and commissions.

Alders

One unique feature of UW is the fact that the majority of the campus falls within District 8, along with some other downtown areas, meaning that a student is typically elected to the council every two years.

The current district 8 representative, Ald. Bryon Eagon, served as the chair of Wisconsin’s chapter of Students for Obama in 2008 before running for council in 2009, and has not yet announced if he will run for reelection in 2011.

Students who live off-campus usually fall within either District 4, represented by the longest serving council member, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 2, represented by recent UW graduate Ald. Bridget Maniaci, or District 5, represented by Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff.

The downtown alders are some of the most vocal on the council.

Eagon ran on a pledge of increasing tenant’s rights and campus-area transportation, while Verveer sits on the Alcohol License Review Committee.

Maniaci, who defeated long-term alder and influential blogger Brenda Konkel in 2009, worked with Hammes Co. and Mansion Hill neighborhood residents to help pass the controversial Edgewater Hotel in May.

She also serves on the Landmarks Commission and, along with Eagon, has proposed changes to current city laws regulating landlords.

The Mayor

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz (chess-LEV-itch), elected to the mayor’s office in 2003, presides over the council and acts as Madison’s chief executive.

He proposes many ideas to the council and is in charge of presenting a budget for the alders’ approval.

Some of Cieslewicz’s most important projects include his proposal for a new central branch for the Madison Public Library and the recently approved redevelopment of the historic Edgewater Hotel.

Throughout his tenure, Cieslewicz has been no stranger to controversy among both council members and city residents. His far-reaching pet projects, such as the Edgewater redevelopment, the ongoing financial crisis at the Overture Center and his desire to rebuild the Central Library, have angered historical preservationists and fiscal conservatives.

Cieslewicz has also collaborated with state and federal officials to bring a high-speed rail station to Monona Terrace in downtown Madison. The station, which will take the name of current Gov. Jim Doyle, will connect Madison to Milwaukee and Chicago and is expected to open in 2013.

Cieslewicz has served two terms as mayor and recently indicated his desire to run for a third term, though he has not yet officially announced his bid.

Madison Police Department

Most UW students have more interaction with MPD than any other arm of city government.

Although many students will interact with UW police officers for on-campus calls, MPD comes in regular contact with students downtown and at major events such as Freakfest and the Mifflin Street Block Party.

MPD has a long and complex history with the UW student body.

In addition to handling the infamous 1960s Vietnam War protests, MPD took on the role of riot police after chaos broke out on State Street during the 2003 Halloween celebration.

Because of this, city officials opted to restrict entry to State Street the Saturday of the celebration, creating Freakfest.

City Commissions and Committees

Before the city council takes up any proposed ordinance, the proposal must first go to an appropriate city committee or commission.

Each group, composed of elected officials and private citizens who Cieslewicz appoints, votes on issues ranging from architecture (Urban Design Commission), historical preservation (Landmarks Commission) and downtown vendors (Vending Oversight Committee).

For students, one of the most important city commissions is the Alcohol License Review Committee, which makes decisions about liquor licenses for Madison bars and liquor stores.

In late 2009, the city council voted to add an additional voting member to the ALRC after the editorial boards of both The Badger Herald and the Daily Cardinal led a boycott of The Nitty Gritty — a popular birthday bar destination — for not supporting a student ALRC representative.