Local Government Structures and Roles

The video tutorial explains the mayor-council government system, a common form of local government in the United States, particularly in large cities. It describes two variations: the weak mayor form, where the mayor has limited authority and relies on personality to influence the council, and the strong mayor form, where the mayor has significant administrative power, including budget preparation and department head appointments. The strong mayor form is prevalent in major cities, while the weak mayor form is more common in small towns.

Which form of local government is most commonly adopted in large cities in the United States?

• Council-manager government

• Mayor-council government

• Parliamentary government

• Federal government

In a weak mayor system, what is the primary source of the mayor's influence?

• Budget control

• Personality

• Veto power

• Formal authority

What is a characteristic of the weak mayor form of government?

• The mayor has veto power

• The mayor prepares the city budget

• The mayor can appoint officials

• The mayor's influence is based on personality

In the strong mayor form, what power does the mayor have over department heads?

• The mayor has no say in department head appointments

• The mayor needs council approval for appointments

• The mayor can appoint and dismiss department heads

• The mayor can only recommend appointments

What is a key feature of the strong mayor form of government?

• The mayor is primarily a ceremonial figure

• The mayor has a wide range of political independence

• The mayor has limited administrative authority

• The mayor requires council approval for all decisions

What led to the development of the council-manager form of local government?

• Abuses in the strong mayor form

• Influence of international governance models

• Popularity of federal government systems

• Success of the weak mayor form

In strong mayor governments, who is responsible for supervising department heads?

• The chief administrative officer

• The voters

• The city council

• The mayor

What is the role of the chief administrative officer in a strong mayor government?

• To act as a ceremonial figure

• To supervise department heads and prepare the budget

• To veto council decisions

• To conduct elections

In the context of local government systems, what is a city manager responsible for?

• Vetoing council decisions

• Supervising department heads and coordinating departments

• Conducting public elections

• Only ceremonial duties

Which system is more commonly used in middle-sized and small American cities?

• Federal system

• Parliamentary system

• Council-manager system

• Strong mayor form