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› Comparing/Contrasting the Mayor-Council and Council-Manager Forms of Government
Reviewed 02/2012
Comparing/Contrasting the Mayor-Council and Council-Manager Forms of Government
The following table displays a comparison between the Mayor-Council and Council-Manager forms of government in Washington State.
| Characteristics | Mayor-Council | Council-Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Legislative authority | Council | Council |
| Executive authority | Elected mayor | Appointed manager |
| Selection of CEO | Popularly elected | Appointed by council on the basis of experience |
| Removal of CEO | Recall election | Removed by a majority vote of the council |
| Tenure of executive | 4-year term | Indefinite |
| Tenure of council | 4-year term | 4-year term |
| Appointment of department heads | Mayor (with council confirmation if provided) | Manager (no council confirmation) |
| Removal of department heads | Mayor | Manager |
| Veto | Mayor | Manager has no veto |
| Policy development | Mayor can propose | Manager can recommend |
| Policy implementation | Mayor | Manager |
| Underlying principles | Separation of powers Political leadership Strong central executive |
Separation of politics from administration Promotion of economy and efficiency through professional management Strong central executive |
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