Answer to Question 1
Answer:
A. Types of municipal governments
1. mayor-council
a. used in less populated or rural areas
b. day-to-day executive operations carried out by mayor or city council
c. have only a few departments
d. no full-time salaried professional administrators or managers
e. no police or fire departments
1. public needs are met by county sheriff and volunteer firefighters
f. public utilities provided by cooperatives or special districts
g. two main forms: weak mayor vs. strong mayor
1. weak mayor: no veto power and limited policy implementation powers
2. strong mayor: can veto policies and ordinances, hire and fire city personnel, budgetary powers; not common in Texas
h. primarily in smaller cities but used in Houston
1. council-manager
a. used in middle and larger sized cities
b. city residents vote elect mayor and city council
1. mayors have limited powers
2. must rely on personality to make an impact
c. they hire city manager to carry out council policies
1. trained in urban studies or public administration
2. knowledge of budgeting, finance and personnel laws
3. earn high salaries
4. since it is merit based position it is apolitical
a. can make decisions based on need and best interests of the community
5. hires qualified personnel to oversee departments
a. council must approve
b. allows for professional management and local political control
c. very little waste; system allows for cost-effective, efficient
C. commission system
a. resembles the plural executive system
b. can be fragmented with no single individual with sole responsibility
Answer to Question 2
Answer: council of government
