Municipal Government - Introduction

Municipal Government

By Ross Bowdridge

From the largest cities to the smallest towns and villages, municipal governments in the U.S. serve as the closest form of government to the people. Across municipal governments, you will find great variety in their structures, functions, and in the services they provide. But, big to small, these examples of local government have much in common and provide their residents with the greatest opportunities for engagement.

Municipality is often used as an umbrella term for the level of local government that includes cities, towns, and villages. All of these forms of municipalities get their powers and boundaries from the state. In some cases, the state creates the town and dictates its structure and plan of government. In other cases, the town will create a charter, or legal document that establishes a municipality, and seek approval from the state before it can be officially formed. Communities without charters are unincorporated, lack a local government of their own, and fall under the administration of a larger unit like a nearby town or the county.

Keeping It Local

Multiple Choice

True or False: All cities, towns and villages are "incorporated communities"

• True
• Maybe

• False

Multiple Select

What role does the state government play in creating cities, towns, and villages?

(Choose the 3 that are correct)

• The state government has to approve the charter that the municipality, creates

• The state government sets the boundaries / borders of the municipality

• The state government will sometimes decide to create a municipality and decide on the structure of its government.

• The mayor and city council make all of the decisions about the creation of a municipality.

• State governments are never involved in the creation of municipalities.

Match

What is the difference between an incorporated an unincorporated community?

• -Has a charter

  -Has its own government

• Does not have a charter

  -Shares a government with other cities/towns/villages

• No

Incorporated Municipality

Unincorporated Municipality

Is there a third type of a municipality?

• Incorporated Municipality

• Unincorporated Municipality

• Is there a third type of a municipality?

What distinguishes a city from a town from a village really depends on its location and regional traditions. States tend to set up their own definitions of each type of municipality. These definitions are based on population, type of government structure, whether the municipality is urban or rural, and the amount of services it offers its citizens.

Boom Town/Ghost Town—The population of a municipality is always in flux. Some towns start small, but over the years can grow to rival the size of many cities. Other towns or villages may decline due to economic or environmental factors, empty out, and turn into ghost towns.

Cities, Towns, Villages and Incorporations

Multiple Choice

What distinguishes a city from a town or village?

• Population size

• Regional traditions

• Type of government structure

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What is a "Ghost Town"?

• A town with a large population

• A town that grows rapidly

• A town that declines and empties out

• A town with a strong economy

Multiple Choice

What is a "Boom Town"?

• A town that has a large population

• A town that grows rapidly over time

• A town that declines due to economic factors

• A town with a strong mayor

In Massachusetts, a city is primarily defined by its chosen form of government, but population size also plays a role. Specifically, a city has to have at least 12,000 residents and also has to have a city council (or board of aldermen) as its legislative body. A town does not have to become a city if the population grows beyond 12,000 residents. This is a decision left to the citizens. However, Massachusetts towns have a town meeting (open or representative) as their legislative body. If a town wants to use a representative town meeting form they must have at least 6,000 people to choose this type of government.

In Massachusetts we also have villages. However, villages do not have a separate governing. Instead contained within a larger town or city. For example, the Village of Melrose is a community within the City of Melrose, MA, and while it may have its own associations, it is still governed by the city's mayor and council. 

Massachusetts definition of Cities and Towns

Match

What is the difference between a city, a town and a village in Massachusetts?

• -Has to have a population of at least 12,000 people

  -Has a city council (or board of aldermen) as its legislative body

• -No maximum population

  -Uses a town meeting as their legislative branch of government.

• -A community that is contained within another city or town

  -Does not have a separate governing body

City

Town

Village

• City

• Town

• Village

Each municipality has a charter that defines the format, organizational structure, powers, functions, and basic procedures of the government. Even with the variety found from one municipality to the next, there are five basic forms of government: Council-Manager, Mayor-Council, Commission, Town Meeting, and Representative Town Meeting. The Council-Manager form looks like a business, while the Mayor-Council is more reflective of how Congress and the president work with each other. If your locality doesn’t fit into one of these categories, it’s likely to have a blend of the two.

​Structures and Functions

Multiple Choice

Which form of government is more reflective (similar) of how Congress and the president work together?

• Council-Manager

• Mayor-Council

• Commission

• Town Meeting

Multiple Choice

In the weak-mayor plan, who is often chosen by the council?

• The mayor

• The president

• The governor

• The city manager

Multiple Choice

What is the role of the mayor in the strong-mayor plan?

• They have do not have any real power, they only have ceremonial duties.

• They are elected by the council and then follow the directions of the elected councilors

• They have executive responsibilities and appoint various city officials

• They have no role in government

Weak Mayor
The weak-mayor plan gives the role of the mayor little executive power. The majority of both the legislative and executive powers are given to the city/town council. In the weak-mayor plan, the mayor is often chosen by the council rather than the people.

Weak Mayor vs Strong Mayor

Strong Mayor​
The strong-mayor plan looks more like what we see with the president and Congress. Here, the mayor is elected by the people, has executive responsibilities similar to a governor or president, and they get to appoints city officials to serve in the government.

Match

What is the difference between a "weak mayor" and a "strong mayor"

• -Mayor is chosen by the city or town council

  -The mayor does not have a lot of Executive Power

  -The city / town council has most of the legislative and executive power.

• -Mayor is elected by the citizens

  -Mayor has executive power similar to the governor

  -Mayor gets to appoint officials

• No!

Weak Mayor

Strong Mayor

Is there a third type of mayor?

• Weak Mayor

• Strong Mayor

• Is there a third type of mayor?

Open Ended

Which type of mayor and city council system sounds better to you? Why do you think this is a better system?

Answer in 2-3 complete sentences.