City Governments

 Most common form of local government ◦ Population has no basis for city classification  New York City, New York  Population: 8, 143,197  Parker, Pennsylvania  Population: 799  Cities are usually important centers of business, art and education ◦ Residents live close together ◦ Special problems in cities  High crime rate  Drug abuse  Homelessness

City Charters Municipality  Incorporate Plans  A local government that provides service to its residents  A city is a Municipality A Charter  A document that grants power to local government Home Rule  Allows cities to write their own charters  Choose their own type of government  Manage their won affairs  Still follow state laws

 A division of power ◦ This form is preferred by large cities  Executive powers  Mayor  Legislative powers  Council  The City Legislature ◦ Council  Pass ordinances  City laws

 Strong – Mayor System ◦ Most large cities operate under this system ◦ The Mayor  Strong executive powers  Veto ordinances  Appoint officials  Writes city budgets  Weak – Mayor System ◦ The Mayor  Limited power

 City Council ◦ Legislative body ◦ Appoints the manager  The Manger ◦ Recommends a budget ◦ Oversees city departments ◦ Deals with personal matters ◦ Reports to the council

 Executive and Legislative ◦ Separate departments ◦ Each department handles a different set of responsibilities  Elected head of department  Other units of Government ◦ Special Districts  These are set up to deal with a specific issue or provide a single service  Example  One village may not be able to afford a fire department  Many villages join together to form one fire department  School Districts  The most common form of a special district  Riverside  Moosic and Taylor