States, cities & tribes
council-manager government
A form of city government where an elected council sets policy and hires a professional manager to run operations. The most common form in mid-sized American cities.
In full
The model emerged from Progressive Era efforts to separate administration from patronage politics. The manager serves at the council's pleasure, prepares the budget, and supervises departments; the council retains all lawmaking and appropriating authority. Critics note the manager is not accountable to voters directly.
Also written as: city manager
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.