Council-Manager Government

Council-manager government grew out of Progressive Era efforts to replace patronage-driven city machines with professional, businesslike administration. Staunton, Virginia, hired a general manager in 1908, Sumter, South Carolina, adopted the first full council-manager charter in 1912, and Dayton, Ohio, became the first large city to use it in 1914 after a devastating flood exposed weaknesses in its government. The International City Management Association, now the International City/County Management Association, was founded in 1914 to support the new profession.

Under this form, voters elect a city council, usually small and often elected at large or in nonpartisan races, which sets policy, passes ordinances, and adopts the budget. The council appoints a professional city manager, typically trained in public administration, who prepares the budget, hires and supervises department heads, and carries out council decisions, and who can be dismissed by the council at any time. The mayor is often a council member chosen by colleagues or directly elected, with a mostly ceremonial and policy leadership role and no separate executive power.

Council-manager government is the most common form in mid-sized American cities and is widely used by counties, and large cities such as Phoenix, Dallas, and San Antonio use it. Some cities have switched away to strong-mayor systems, including San Diego in 2006, arguing that voters should directly elect the person running the city. Supporters say professional managers bring expertise and reduce corruption and patronage. Critics say the model weakens political accountability and leaves no single elected leader responsible, especially in large, diverse cities.