Editing Lord Mayor of London (section)

==Election==
The Lord Mayor is elected at Common Hall, comprising [[Liveryman|liverymen]] belonging to all of the City's [[Livery company|livery companies]]. Common Hall is summoned by the sitting Lord Mayor; it meets at [[Guildhall, London|Guildhall]] on [[Michaelmas Day]] (29 September) or on the closest weekday. Voting is by show of hands; if any liveryman so demands, balloting is held a fortnight later.

The qualification to stand for election is that one must have served as a City sheriff and be a current alderman. Since 1385, prior service as [[Sheriffs of the City of London|sheriff]] has been mandatory for election to the Lord Mayoralty. Two sheriffs are selected annually by Common Hall, which meets on [[Midsummer|Midsummer's Day]] for this purpose. By an ordinance of 1435, the Lord Mayor must be chosen from amongst the [[Alderman|aldermen]] of the City of London. Those on the electoral roll of each of the City's 25 wards select one alderman, who formerly held office for life or until resignation. Each alderman must now submit for re-election at least once in every six years.

The Lord Mayor is sworn in each November, on the day before the Lord Mayor's Show (''see below''). The ceremony is known as the "Silent Ceremony" because, aside from a short declaration by the incoming Lord Mayor, no speeches are made. At Guildhall, the outgoing Lord Mayor transfers the mayoral insignia – the [[Seal (emblem)|seal]], the purse, the [[City of London swords#State Sword|sword]] and the [[Ceremonial mace|mace]] — to the incoming Lord Mayor.