Forms of Local Government

Instructions

Write a paper that analyzes each of the two predominant forms of local government discussed in detail below. If you are unfamiliar with the different forms of local government, you are encouraged to conduct some independent research to learn more about them. For example, you may want to better understand how each is managed, how each operates organizationally, and what scholars or professional associations say about them. You may even want to explore the website of the city where you live to learn which form it uses.

Once you have a good understanding of each form of government, consider the following organizational qualities:

• Efficiency
• Fairness
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Long-range planning and goals
• Decision making
• Organizational culture

Then, choose one (1) of the above qualities and discuss how it manifests in or is influenced by the organizational structure of a city with EACH of the forms below.  In other words, you should include in your paper an informed analysis of your chosen quality in EACH form of government.  For example, some questions you may want to consider in your paper include the following:

• Does one form encourage or discourage the quality you chose?  How? Why? Give an example to illustrate your points. 
• What does your analysis say to professionals working within each form of government in terms of organizational management and behavior? 
• Why does a city’s form of government matter in terms of organizational management, behavior, and/or performance?

It is always a good practice to review the grading rubric for each assignment prior to submission to be sure you are addressing each required item.  However, here are some pointers as you begin:

• Begin with a title page that includes your name.

• Include introductory and conclusion paragraphs.  Write for an intelligent, yet uninformed reader. Include a thesis sentence in the introduction that establishes a roadmap for your paper. Wrap up your paper with a conclusion paragraph that summarizes your paper and leaves the reader with a powerful concluding thought.

• Be sure to use subheadings to organize your paper and to clearly indicate your chosen quality. 

• Follow all academic writing guidelines.  You will find the Academic Writing Visual in the Assignment Instructions. Print it out and refer to it often as you write.

• Include properly formatted APA in-text citations of assigned course readings throughout the body of the paper. You are encouraged to seek out and use reliable and objective sources such as journal articles or professional publications.  (Wikipedia, various online encyclopedias/dictionaries, about.com, and the like do not meet this standard and are not acceptable for graduate work.)

• Include a properly formatted Reference page at the end of the submission.

• The entire body of the paper (including references) should consist of 750 to 1000 words.  Respect this word count.

Project Description

A city’s form of government is the constitutional and legal basis for assigning authority and establishes the local government’s framework.

The governmental structure a city chooses dictates the ways different people in the organization interact (who talks to whom, who gives instructions to whom, and how those instructions are interpreted.) Cities in the United States typically use one of two different forms.  The main differentiating characteristic is whether power is divided between the mayor and the city council, as in mayor-council governments, or power rests wholly in the elected city council as in council-manager governments.  Many scholars and practitioners argue that the decision on which of the two forms to adopt will influence more facets of city government than any other decision.

Interestingly, although form of government is one of the most profound decisions a community can make about its local government, it is also commonly misunderstood.  How a particular form of government plays out in everyday governmental operations is often not understood by many citizens.

Mayor-Council.

The mayor-council form of government is modeled after the structure found in the federal government.  Details on how this form of government is arranged vary, but in most cases the mayor has the power to run the day-to-day operations of the local government’s activities, to prepare and administer the budget, and to carry out public policy.  In addition, the mayor often has the authority to veto legislation passed by the council; that veto is subject to being overridden by a council majority.

Under the “strong mayor” version of this form of government, the mayor is typically able to hire and fire department heads and can take action on behalf of the city without council approval, including signing large-scale contracts.

Supporters of the strong mayor-council want an independent elected political leader who also has the authority of being the administrator of the city with limited checks on that authority.

Council-Manager.

The council-manager form of government is based on a unified elected mayor and council; professional advice and management is provided by a professional city manager who is held accountable to the council.  Professional city managers often hold an MPA degree and have skills and experience in all facets of municipal operations.  The manager is responsible for advising the council, implementing council decisions, and acting as steward of municipal resources.

This form of government reflects the predominant organizational structure typically found in school districts, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations where a governing board appoints an executive who runs the day-to-day operations of the organization and keeps the governing board informed.  The board sets policy for the organization, and the executive handles the management details to carry out those policies.

The council-manager structure also mirrors that of a corporation.  Voters act as shareholders and elect a city council to fill the positions on a board of directors.  The mayor serves as the chairperson of the board.  As a group, they hire a professional manager (similar to a corporate CEO) to implement the big-picture policies approved by the council.  The mayor’s role is political only.  The mayor is not directly involved in the any aspect of daily city administration.

The trained, professional, nonpartisan city manager serves as the chief executive and has authority to manage all aspects of local government operations.  If the manager is not performing to the satisfaction of the elected officials, the manager can be removed at any time by a majority vote.  Essentially, the city council conducts all policymaking, and the appointed city manager is responsible to the council for policy advice and all management functions.