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<br />, Forms of Local Government <br /> <br />Page 1 of2 <br /> <br />Forms of Local Government <br /> <br />Council Manager <br /> <br />In the council-manager form of government, the council is the governing body of the city elected by the <br />public, and the manager is hired by council to carry out the policies it establishes. The council usually <br />consists of five to nine members including a mayor (or council president) who is either selected by the <br />councilor elected by the people as defined in the city charter. The size of the council is generally <br />smaller than that of a mayor-council municipality, and council elections are usually nonpartisan. <br /> <br />The council provides legislative direction while the manager is responsible for day-to-day administrative <br />operation of the city based on the council's recommendations. The mayor and council as a collegial <br />body are responsible for setting policy, approving the budget, and determining the tax rate. The manager <br />serves as the council's chief advisor. Managers also serve at the pleasure of the council and are <br />responsible for preparing the budget, directing day-to-day operations, and hiring and firing personnel. <br /> <br />Typically, the mayor is recognized as the political head of the municipality, but is a member of the <br />legislative body and does not have the power to veto legislative actions. <br /> <br />The Council-Manager Form <br /> <br />VOTERS <br /> <br />COUNCIL <br /> <br />MANAGER <br /> <br />I I I I <br />DEPARTMENT HEADS <br /> <br />Mayor-Council <br /> <br />The mayor-council (council-elected executive counties) form of government is the form that most <br />closely parallels the American federal government, with an elected legislature and a separately elected <br />executive. <br /> <br />The mayor or elected executive is designated as the head of the city or county government The extent of <br />his or her authority can range from purely ceremonial to functions to full-scale responsibility for day-to- <br />day operations. But the mayor's or elected executive's duties and powers generally include the <br />following: hiring and firing department heads, preparation and administration of the budget, and veto <br />power (which may be overridden) over acts of legislature. The legislature has the following <br />responsibilities: adoption of the budget, passage of resolutions with legislation, auditing the performance <br />of the government, and adoption of general policy positions. <br /> <br />http://www2.icma.org/upload/library/IQ/106142.htm <br /> <br />1/16/2003 <br />