Council-manager facts for kids
The council-manager government is a popular way that many cities are run, especially in the United States. It's a type of local government where citizens elect a city council, and this council then hires a professional city manager to handle the daily operations of the city. This system first started in Staunton, Virginia, in 1908.
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What is Council-Manager Government?
This system is like how a business might be run. The elected city council acts like a board of directors, setting the main goals and policies for the city. They decide what needs to be done.
The Role of the City Council
The city council members are elected by the people living in the city. Their main jobs include:
- Making important decisions for the city.
- Passing laws and rules (called ordinances).
- Approving the city's budget, which is a plan for how the city will spend its money.
- Hiring the city manager.
The Role of the City Manager
The city manager is a trained professional, often with experience in managing cities or businesses. They are hired by the city council to:
- Oversee all the city's departments and employees.
- Make sure city services, like trash collection, parks, and roads, run smoothly.
- Prepare the city's budget for the council to approve.
- Advise the city council on important issues.
- Carry out the policies and decisions made by the council.
The Role of the Mayor
In a council-manager government, the Mayor usually has a different role compared to other types of city governments.
- Sometimes, the mayor is a member of the city council who is chosen by the council members to lead their meetings.
- The mayor might also be directly elected by the citizens but mainly serves a ceremonial role. This means they represent the city at events and welcome visitors, but they don't usually manage the city's daily operations.
- In some cases, the position of mayor might not even exist, and the council chairperson takes on those ceremonial duties.
Where is it Used?
The council-manager system is very common in the United States. Most American cities with more than 12,000 people use this form of government. It's popular because it aims to run the city efficiently, like a business, by having a professional manager in charge of daily tasks.
