Omaha, Nebraska received its first formal municipal government in 1857 when the Territorial Legislature passed a special act giving the city its initial charter. Under this act the city\u27s voters elected a Mayor and a nine-member Board of Aldermen from three wards. Two years after Nebraska achieved statehood, the State Legislature passed a general charter law for Omaha which followed this basic mayor-council form, as did subsequent charter laws passed in 1871 and 1897
