Updated 11/2007
Forms of Government
Contents
- Introduction/Overview
- Reference Sources
- Statistics
- Forms of Government
- Reorganizing/Changing Form of Government
- City Charters
Introduction/Overview
This page includes a discussion of the basic forms of government adopted by and available to Washington cities. Also included are links to: (1) state laws on forms of government including procedures for changing forms of government; (2) frequently asked questions about forms of government; (3) selected MRSC Library holdings on this subject; and (4) various documents (including sample resolutions calling for elections on the question of changing forms of government) relating to this subject.
Reference Sources
- Statutes
- MRSC Inquiries
- Selected MRSC Library Holdings - Forms of Government [Note: Clicking on one of the links below will take you to a list of documents available on loan through the MRSC library.]
Statistics
- Forms of Government and Percentage of Incorporated Population of Washington Cities--1940-2003, MRSC, August 2003
- Washington Cities Incorporating Under, Adopting or Abandoning the Mayor-Council, Council-Manager and Commission Forms of Government from 1970 to 2008, MRSC, January 2008
- Washington Cities by Classification and Form of Government, MRSC
- Washington cities and towns by form of government (follow the link and click on the "Form of Gov" tab to generate a list of council-manager and mayor-council cities)
Forms of Government
- Forms of Government Overview, MRSC
- Plans of Government Available to Code Cities - excerpt form Code City Handbook, MRSC Report No. 37, December 1996
- Comparing/Contrasting the Mayor-Council and Council-Manager Forms of Government - A brief comparison of key characteristics of mayor-council and council-manager forms.
- Trends in Forms of Government in Washington Cities, Byron Katsuyama and Lynn Nordby, Public Policy and Management Consultants, MRSC, March 2011
- Creating the City Administrator Position, MRSC - Sample Code Provisions
- The Unofficial Role of the Administrator, Lynn Nordby, Public Policy and Management Consultant, MRSC, Public Management, ICMA, October 2008
- Council Election by Wards or Districts, MRSC
Reorganizing/Changing Form of Government
- Process for Reorganization - excerpt form Code City Handbook, MRSC Report No. 37, December 1996 (Procedure for code city to change to a different authorized form of government)
- Bainbridge Island Resolution No. 93-09 - sample resolution, adopted under RCW 35A.06, calling for an election on the proposition of whether the city should abandon the mayor-council form of government and reorganize under council-manager form of government, including sample ballot proposition.
- Bainbridge Island Resolution No. 2008-29 - requesting the State Legislature amend RCW 35A.06.050 to restore noncharter code cities the right to choose the date of election for a change in form of government - November 2008
- Fircrest Resolution No. 408 - sample resolution, adopted under Ch. 35.18 RCW, calling for an election on the proposition of adopting the council-manger plan of government.
- Sample Petition for Election to Reorganize From Mayor-Council Form of Government to Council-Manager Form of Government in a Code City
- Soap Lake Resolution No. 443 - sample resolution, adopted under Ch. 35.18 RCW, in response to a petition for the adoption of the council-manager plan of government.
City Charters
- Aberdeen (
564 KB; 1929)
- Bellingham (1973)
- Bremerton (1973)
- Everett (1968)
- Kelso (Code city; charter 1993)
- Richland ( 158 KB; 1958)
- Seattle (1896)
- Spokane (1910)
- Tacoma (1953)
- Vancouver (1952)
- Yakima (1931)
*For information about County Charters, see "County Forms of Government"
Related MRSC Resources