Final answer:
The main advantage of the council-manager form of government is that administrative tasks are managed by a professional city manager. This system allows the city council to focus on policy-making, while the city manager takes care of the city's daily operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main advantage of the council-manager form of government over the mayor-council form of government is that administrative issues are left to a professional. This structure is designed to separate the daily operations of the city from the electoral process and political parties, ensuring that a professional administrator, who is usually experienced in business or engineering, can focus on the practical elements of city operations. The city manager is appointed by the elected city council and is responsible for the administration of municipal services. This allows the city council to concentrate on legislative functions, such as setting policies and formulating budgets.
In contrast, the mayor-council system combines both legislative and executive responsibilities, with the mayor often wielding considerable authority depending on whether it's a strong or weak mayor system. The council-manager system, therefore, provides the benefit of having a dedicated manager handle administrative tasks, freeing elected officials to govern and make decisions on policy without being bogged down by the day-to-day management of city affairs.