Route to becoming Lord Mayor

Freemen

Obtaining the Freedom of the City, by patrimony (inheritance) by servitude (apprenticeship or trade) or by redemption (purchase) is the first step.

The enrolment ceremony is at the Chamberlains Court at the Guildhall. A 'Declaration of a Freeman' is read and a copy of the Freedom is presented. The current Freedom Fee (known as the fine) is £30

Certain privileges are:

- The right to drive sheep and cattle over London Bridge (no longer applies, but in times gone by this meant not having to pay tolls from the markets in the south to north of the river)

- Protection from 'press gangs'

- To be hung with a silken rope 

- If found drunk and disorderly, the City of London Police will send you home via taxi instead of holding you in a cell.

Liverymen

Application for becoming a member of one of the 110 Livery Companies applies to those people associated with the relevant trade or profession. 

The procedure to becoming a Liveryman is to become a Freeman of the Livery Company by fulfilling the Company's requirements, then apply for the City Freedom. A Liveryman is a full member of their Company. 

In medieval times the word 'livery' was the term used for the clothing, food and drink provided to rich households. Later, the term refers to the distinct clothing and badges that were the symbol of their priveliges, and so that they could be distinguished from one another. They wear ceremonial dress on their company's official and formal occasions. 

The senior members of the Livery companies form Common Hall, which is the body that chooses The Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs. 

Note: any two Liverymen may nominate a candidate for the Freedom of the City. 

Aldermen

The Court of Aldermen has 25 members, one representing each Ward in the City. They are elected by the registered voters within the ward every 6 years. A non-residential voting system is also in place, and for each company or business, the number of votes are based on the number of workers.

Some Aldermen sit as Magistrates in the City of London, although the requirement to do so has been dropped. 

The sole qualification of office is that Aldermen must be Freemen of the City.

Sheriffs

The office of Sheriff is the oldest in Lomdon, the name deriving from the Shire Reeve who exercised the kings authority over his citizens. 

There are two Sheriffs of the City, and their role is to support and accompany The Lord Mayor to official occasions at home and abroad. Both live in the court house at the Mansion House so that one is always in attendance. It is a customary that the The Lord Mayor must have previously served as a Sheriff, so would have already been introduced to the role. 

One is known as the Aldermanic Sheriff - after having served as an Alderman and hoping to go on to becoming The Lord Mayor. 

The other is Non-Aldermanic Sheriff - who has no civic ambitions and is happy to complete the year, responsible for the Old Bailey as an administrative officer of the court and also host receptions.