Mayor-council government

Over the years, the most widely used form of municipal government in the United States has been the mayor-council form. Today, this form still is used in more than one half of the municipalities across the country.

In a mayor-council form of government, the most important municipal leaders are the mayor and members of a council. The mayor holds executive responsibility, while the council carries out the legislative duties of the municipality. In most areas, both the mayor and members of the council are elected by the voters of the municipality.

As chief executive, the mayor directs the workings of the municipal government. Often, the mayor is one of the most visible city leaders, addressing current issues, planning new development, and working with state and national leaders. The mayor also acts as a symbol of the municipality and as its key spokesperson. In this role, the mayor might welcome visitors or lead ceremonies to open a new shopping center.

A mayor's term of office varies from city to city. It usually ranges, however, from two to four years.

The council is the municipality's legisla­tive body. The council's most important duty is to make laws for the municipality. As part of this duty, municipal councils often lead investigations and study ideas for changes in policy. They also work on long-range plans for new projects. These may include road devel­opment or sewage disposal.

Most councils have six or less members. In large cities, however, the council may have many more members. The city council of Chicago, Illinois, for example, has 50 mem­bers. The term of office council members serve varies from one to six years among cities across the country.

In many areas, council members are chosen through at large elections. This means that they are elected by all city's voters. Some cities, however, are divided into geogra­phic areas called wards. One or more council members are elected from each ward.

Depending on state law and the provi­sions of the municipal charter, the mayor-council government may follow either a weak-mayor or a strong-mayor plan.

WEAK-MAYOR PLAN. As its name suggests, the weak-mayor plan is one in which the mayor has limited powers. Although still the head of city government, the mayor must share certain executive powers with the council.

Under the weak-mayor plan, one of the most important responsibilities of municipal leadership is given to the council. This is the responsibility to direct the work of city departments—those groups that carry out city services. These might include the departments of health, public works, transportation, police, and fire.

In municipalities with a weak-mayor plan, the council, rather than the mayor, has the authority to appoint and dismiss depart­ment heads. In this way, the council directs city services. In addition, the mayor in a weak-mayor plan rarely has the power to veto, or reject, council actions. When the veto is allowed, the council often can override it. As a result, it is the council that runs the city government from day to day. In some weak-mayor plans, in fact, the mayor's duties are largely ceremonial. In these cities, the council usually chooses the mayor from among its members.

The weak-mayor plan works best in small municipalities. Often, the position of mayor in such areas is a part-time job.