Final answer:
In the council-manager system of government, voters elect a city council that appoints a city manager to handle administrative duties, while the council focuses on legislative responsibilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Council-Manager System of Government
In the council-manager system of government, which is a popular form of municipal governance in the United States, the administrative and policy-making duties are separated between an elected council and an appointed manager. The voters elect a city council whose members then appoint a city manager to oversee the daily administrative operations of the municipality. The city council focuses on legislative functions such as setting policies and creating budgets, while the city manager is responsible for the execution of these policies and the day-to-day management of city affairs.
This system was established to avoid corruption associated with political machines and to promote efficiency in local governance. Since its inception in Staunton, Virginia, in 1908, over thirty-seven hundred cities, including major ones like Austin, Dallas, and Phoenix, have adopted the council-manager system. Through this model, the municipal government is intended to function more like a business with a focus on practical aspects of city operations.
The mayor-council system, by contrast, elects a mayor who, depending on whether it is a 'strong' or 'weak' mayor system, may have substantial executive powers or limited authority. Under the council-elected executive system, both council members and an executive akin to a state governor are elected, with the executive wielding greater powers such as vetoing council actions and drafting budgets.
Regardless of the system, city and county governments rely on tax revenues, such as property taxes, to fund services like law enforcement, clean water, and park maintenance. Each of these systems provides a unique way of dividing the administrative and policy-making responsibilities among elected and appointed officials.