Editing Celle (section)

==Government==
For the purposes of [[Bundestag]] elections the town of Celle belongs to the [[constituency]] of Celle-Uelzen. In 1983, 1987, 1990 and 1994 Klaus-Jürgen Hedrich ([[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]]) won the direct vote. In 1998, 2002 and 2005 [[Peter Struck (politician)|Peter Struck]] ([[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|SPD]]) won the majority of votes. In 2009 [[Henning Otte]] (CDU) received the direct mandate.

For Lower Saxony State Parliament (''[[Landtag]]'') elections Celle forms the constituency of Celle-Stadt with its surrounding area. In 2003 the CDU won the majority of votes.

===Town council===
The town council has 42 elected members as well as the directly elected mayor (''[[Bürgermeister|Oberbürgermeister]]''). Since the local elections of 11 September 2016, it has consisted of ten parties or voting groups:<ref name="Stadtrat">{{cite web |title=Bürger- und Ratsinformationssystem |url=http://celle.allris-online.de/bi/pa021.asp?SORT=1kppartei |website=Residenzstadt Celle |access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref>

* [[Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands|CDU]] − 16 seats
* [[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|SPD]] − 9 seats
* [[Alternative für Deutschland|AfD]] - 4 seats
* [[Bündnis 90/Die Grünen]] − 3 seats
* Zukunft Celle − 3 seats 
* [[Freie Demokratische Partei|FDP]] − 2 seats
* [[The Left (Germany)|Die Linke]]/Alliance for Social Justice (''Bündnis Soziale Gerechtigkeit'') – Celle (BSG-CE) − 2 seats
* Die Unabhängigen - 2 seats
* [[Die Partei]] - 1 seat
* WG (Wählergemeinschaft) − 1 seat

===Mayors (''Oberbürgermeister'')===
* 1877–1895: Otto Hattendorf (1822–1905)
* 1895–1924: Wilhelm Denicke
* 1924–1945: Ernst Meyer (1887–1948)
* 1945: Max Vogel
* 1945–1946: Walther Hörstmann (1898–1977)
* 1946–1948: Richard Schäfer
* 1948–1952: Franz-Georg Guizetti
* 1952–1964: Wilhelm Heinichen (1883–1967)
* 1964–1973: Kurt Blanke (1900–1997)
* 1973–1985: Helmuth Hörstmann (1909–1993)
* 1986–2001: Herbert Severin
* 2001–2008: Martin Biermann (CDU)
* 2009–2017: Dirk-Ulrich Mende (SPD)
* since 2017: Jörg Nigge (CDU)

===Coat of arms===
[[File:Grosses Wappen Celle.png|thumb|upright|The armorial achievement of the town of Celle]]
'''[[Blazoning]]:''' ''[[Azure (heraldry)|Azure]], a [[castle]], triple-towered, embattled above the [[gate|port]], all argent, masoned [[Sable (heraldry)|sable]], the port sable, the towers roofed [[gules]]. The port charged with a [[Lion (heraldry)|lion rampant]] azure surrounded by seven hearts gules on an [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|inescutcheon]] [[Bend (heraldry)|bendwise]] [[Or (heraldry)|or]].''<ref>[http://www.celle.de/index.phtml?La=1&sNavID=342.62&mNavID=342.62&ffsm=1&ffmod=pres&object=pres|342.28.1&FID=342.28.1 Primary constitution of the town of Celle, 16th amendment of 12 July 2007 § 1 paragraph 2]</ref>

The [[helmet]] on the full [[coat of arms]] is described as follows: ''On the shield is a blue and white [[torse|wreathed]] helmet with a [[mantling]], blue on the outside and white on the inside. The [[Crest (heraldry)|crest]] consists of two [[sickle]]s leaning outwards with red handles. The sickles have their points upwards, blades inward-facing and are decorated with [[peacock]]'s eyes on the outside edges.''

===Flag===
The town flag is divided into two equal stripes in the town colours of blue and white. It may also contain the town coat of arms.<ref>[http://www.celle.de/index.phtml?La=1&sNavID=342.62&mNavID=342.62&ffsm=1&ffmod=pres&object=pres|342.28.1&FID=342.28.1 Primary constitution of the town of Celle, 16th amendment of 12 July 2007 § 1 paragraph 3]</ref>

===Official seal===
The town of Celle has an official seal whose design is based on the oldest town seal of 1288 with the circumscription ''Stadt Celle''. It depicts a gatehouse between two castle towers. In the open gateway under a decorative helmet there is a shield tilting to the left charged with the lion of the Dukes of [[Duchy of Lüneburg|Lüneburg]].<ref>[http://www.celle.de/index.phtml?La=1&sNavID=342.62&mNavID=342.62&ffsm=1&ffmod=pres&object=pres|342.28.1&FID=342.28.1 Primary constitution of the town of Celle, 16th amendment of 12 July 2007 § 1, paragraph 3]</ref>