Question

"While the board of commissioners in the commission system have combined legislative executive powers, the power of the city council in the council-manager system is largely:

a) Advisory
b) Executive
c) Legislative
d) Judicial"

Answer 1

The city council in a council-manager system primarily wields legislative power, focusing on policy setting and budget formulation, while administrative functions are performed by an appointed city manager.

Step-by-step explanation:

In council-manager systems of local government, the city council possesses largely legislative powers. These elected representatives focus on political functions such as setting policy and formulating budgets. The city council then appoints a city manager to handle the administrative tasks and day-to-day operations, effectively taking on executive functions. This division of labor allows the council to deliberate and make laws without being bogged down by the intricacies of administrative duties.

The commission system, in contrast, consolidates legislative and executive powers within a selected group of commissioners who govern at the county level. Both the council-manager and commission systems are designed to manage local government responsibilities efficiently, but they distribute power differently among the elected officials and appointed managers or administrators.