City commission government is a form of municipal government which was once common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the council-manager form of government. Proponents of the latter form typically consider the city commission to be the predecessor of, not the alternative to, the council-manager form of government.^[1]

In a city commission government, voters elect a small commission, typically from five to seven members, on a plurality-at-large basis. These commissioners constitute the legislative body of the city and as a group are responsible for taxation, appropriations, ordinances, and other general functions. Individual commissioners are assigned responsibility for a specific aspect of municipal affairs, such as public works, finance, or public safety. One commissioner is designated to function as chairman or mayor, but this is largely a procedural or ceremonial designation and typically does not involve significant additional powers beyond that exercised by the other commissioners. As such, this form of government blends legislative and executive branch functions in the same body.

It is in many ways similar to the "weak mayor" form of mayor-council government.

[edit] History

This form of government originated in Galveston, Texas as a response to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. Mainly for the reason that they needed extra support in certain areas to mend the bleeding. After the constitutionality was tested and confirmed, this form of government quickly became popular across the state of Texas and spread to other parts of the United States. The City Commission form is sometimes known as the Galveston Plan or the Texas Idea. Des Moines, Iowa became the first city outside Texas to adopt this form, and along with other reforms, its variation become known as the Des Moines Plan.^[1]

Portland, Oregon remains the only large city in the United States that still has a City Commission form of government.^[2] A measure to change to the council-manager form of government was defeated 76%-24% on the May 2007 ballot.^[3] This form of government is commonly used in the South Florida region.

The council-manager form of government developed at least in part as a response to some perceived limitations of the commission form. The council-manager form became the preferred alternative for progressive reform, and after World War I, very few cities adopted the commission form and many cities using the commission plan switched to the council-manager form. Galveston itself changed forms in 1960.^[1]

[edit] See also

• Mayor-council government
• Council-manager government

[edit] References