\_ LESSON 27: City Government ANG ASA suai WORDS TO KNOW eas at-large members city wards strong-mayor system city council commissioner weak-mayor system city manager mayor Running City Government Within each county, there may be more than one city. Each city has its own local government. This is called city government, Most cities elect a mayor and a city council. The mayor is the chief executive of city government. The city council is like a legislature. The city council usually has five to nine members. T hey are elected by city wards, or voting areas. Many city councils also have at-large members. These at-large members represent the whole city, not just one area. Together, the mayor and city council pass city ordinances. These laws run the city. Who holds most of the power, the mayor or the city council? The answer differs from city to city. In some cities, the mayor has a lot of power. In others, the city council holds the most power. Every city has many jobs that have to be done. The elected leaders cannot do all the work. City departments carry out many city services. Some common departments include the following: 3 fire department 3 police department 3 sanitation department 3 public transportation department = un Government » American Government4 PRACTICE 106: Running City Government Circle the letter of the correct answer to each of the following questions. 1. Which of the following is the term for a voting area within a city? a. supervisor b. city council c. city ward d. city board 2. Which of the following is NOT a common city department? a. police department b. fire department ¢. sanitation department d. legislation department The Weak-Mayor System In some cities, the city council has most of the power. It passes laws. It makes the budget. It hires and fires city officers. The mayor is just another council member with a few extra jobs. Such cities have a weak-mayor system. Look at the diagram below. Weak-Mayor System voters elect Mayor City Council |<— is a member of id passes laws makes budget hires and fires officers Tesson 27 ly Government» American GovernmentJ PRACTICE 107: The Weak-Mayor System Circle the letter of the correct answer to each of the following. 1. Which of the following describes the mayor in a weak-mayor system? a. holds most of the power b._ is not part of the city council c. isa city council member d. has no power at all 2. Which is a job of the city council ina weak-mayor system? a. to make the city budget b. to fire officers c. to pass laws d. all of the above The Strong-Mayor System In some cities, the mayor is very powerful. He or she is the true leader of the city. He or she can veto laws passed by the city council. He or she makes up the city budget. He or she chooses ‘Many city officers. The mayor may have as much power as some U.S. senators. Strong mayors are common in large cities. These cities have a strong-mayor system. Look at the diagram below. St -Mai System TONG way OE SY: passes laws voters elect City Council Mayor makes budget _ hires and fires officers __ vetoes laws“J PRACTICE 108: The Strong-Mayor System Circle the letter of the correct answer to each of the following questions. 1. Who holds most of the power in a strong-mayor system? a. the city council b. the mayor c. the state legislature d._ the board of commissioners 2. How is a city council in a strong-mayor system different from one in a weak-mayor system? a. The city council holds more power in a strong-mayor system. b. The city council holds less power in a strong-mayor system. c. They are the same. yN ager System Some cities do not have a mayor. Instead, the city council hires a city) ger. This manager is chosen because of his or her special management training. The city manager runs the everyday business of the city. For example, he or she may oversee city departments, such as the police or fire department. In this system, the city council has the same kind of duties and power as in a weak-mayor system. This type of city government is called a city manager system. Look at the diagram below. City Manager System oversees departments voters elect )_ City Manager : | City Council |~ chooses | passes laws makes budget hires and fires officers FED Lesson 27: city Goverment « American GovernmentJ PRACTICE 109: The City Manager System Circle the letter of the correct answer to each of the following questions. 1. What does a city council look for when it chooses a city manager? a popular personality a good voting record special management training |. experience as a lawmaker Bere 2. In what way is a city manager like a weak mayor? a. He or she makes the budget. b. He or she vetoes city laws. c. He or she oversees departments. d._ He or she fires officers. The City Commission System Some cities elect a board of commissioners. A board of commissioners is a group of officers. Each officer is called a commissioner. The commissioners do both legislative and executive jobs. As legislators, they pass ordinances and set up budgets. As executives, they may run different city departments. Small cities and towns often have this kind of city government. It is called a city commission system. Look at the diagram below. City Commission System voters elect ty y Board of Commissioners serves as head of ji city departments passes ordinances Dicer fire department police department tax collection —— public health avemment « American Governmenti “a PRACTICE 110: The City Commission System Check each item below that names a duty of a board of commissioners. © 1. collecting taxes 2. passing ordinances 3. running the fire department 4. choosing a city manager LAP, f | You have just learned about four different systems of city | | government. To help you remember which is which, pay 4) attention to the name of each system. This will help you remember the main feature of that system. For example, the weak-mayor system has a “weak mayor.” The city commission system is run by a group of commissioners, and so on. Four Types of City Government—Review Here is a quick review of the four types of city government you have just learned about. 3 The weak-mayor system has a weak elected mayor who shares power with the city council. 4 In the strong-mayor system, an elected mayor has most of the power. This system is often found in large cities. 3 The city manager system has a city manager who is not elected. The city manager runs the city’s everyday business, but an elected city council has most of the power. 4 The city commission system has a strong group of commissioners who act as both legislators and executives. This system is often found in small cities and towns. Lesson 27: ity Government « American Government-4 PRACTICE 111: Four Types of City Government—Review Write the correct type of city government on the line provided. 1. This type of city government has a chief executive who is not elected. 2. This type of city government has no chief executive. 3. This type of city government has a powerful, elected executive. 4. This type of city government has an elected mayor who shares power with the city council. UNIT 7 REVIEW Circle the letter of the correct answer to each of the following questions. 1. Whatis the largest area of local government? a. city b. county c. village d. town 2. What are the laws of a city or county government usually called? a. ordinances b._ bills ¢. zones d._ wards