COMMON-COUNCIL, noun The council of a city or corporate town, empowered to make by-laws for the government of the citizens. The common council of London consists of two houses; the upper house, composed of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen; and the lower house, of the common-council-men, elected by the several wards. In most of the American cities, the Mayor, Aldermen and common-council-men constituted one body, called a Court of Common-Council