What Even Is an Auditor General?

The state’s chief fiscal watchdog is on the ballot in November. Here’s why that matters, the next in our Your City (Commonwealth) Defined series

By J.P. Romney

Your City Defined: The City Budget

Mayor Parker kicked off budget season with her $6 billion budget proposal to City Council. Here’s what that means, and what happens now

By J.P. Romney

Your City Defined: Philadelphia City Commissioners

The elected trio is responsible for running all elections in Philly, from registering voters to counting the votes.

By Lauren McCutcheon

Your City Defined: Sunshine Act

The 1957 state law requires elected bodies to hold all meetings in public, so the public knows what their government is doing. That is … a nice idea, isn’t it?

By J.P. Romney

Your City Defined: The Mummers Parade

A history lesson, including some scholarly conjecture, about Philadelphia’s New Year’s Day … phenomenon

By J.P. Romney

Your City Defined: Register of Wills

What a RoW does, what Orphans’ Court is, and what Tracey Gordon, currently in the role, may have done to help herself out of a job

By J.P. Romney

Your City Defined: Sheriff’s Office

Here’s a breakdown — and a little history — about the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office

By J.P. Romney

Your City Defined: Home Rule Charter

The City of Philadelphia's constitution is a growing framework of both commonsense and potentially outdated laws.

By Lauren McCutcheon

Your City Defined: Booing Santa Claus

It's a stain on Philly fans' reputation. But what's the real story?

By Larry Platt

Your City Defined: 311

City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas recently introduced a bill to pay Philadelphians for filing complaints. Which led us to wonder: Just what is 311 all about?

By J.P. Romney