It is composed of the city council or board of aldermen. Members of the city council are elected by the people from the wards or districts into which the city is divided.

Usually one member is chosen from each ward, although in some cities the council members are elected at large. Their terms vary from one to four years in different cities.

The powers of the city council are limited by the city charter, and concern local affairs only.

They relate to the protection of the public health, the laying out and care of streets, the control of places of amusement, and sometimes to the levying of taxes and the spending of the city's money.1

If a railway company should wish to lay tracks through your city, it would have to obtain permission from the city council..

It is the duty of the city council to see that your rights and the rights of all other citizens are protected in this and other transactions.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

What department of city government makes the laws?
Of what is this department composed?

By whom are the city lawmakers elected? How are they chosen?
Is your city divided into wards? How many wards are there?
How many councilmen are there? In which ward do you live?
Who is your councilman? How long is his term of office?
What are the powers of the city council? What are its duties?
How do the people in a city help to make its laws?

1 In some cities it was thought that the city council had too much power. In these cases part of the duties of the council have been transferred to the

mayor.

LESSON VII

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

The Mayor

The city laws are made by the legislative department, consisting of the city council.

They are enforced by the executive department.
The mayor is the chief executive officer in the city.
He is at the head of the executive department.

It is the duty of the mayor to see that city laws and ordinances are carried out.

The mayor is elected by the people.

He serves a term varying from one to five years in different cities.

The mayor has the power to appoint many city officials. He may also remove certain officials if it is proved that their removal is for the public good.

In some cities the mayor presides over the city council and often makes recommendations for them to consider. As a rule he has the power to veto ordinances passed by the city council.

Usually a two-thirds vote of the council is necessary to pass an ordinance over the mayor's veto.

The work of carrying on the business of the city government is so great that the mayor must have helpers.

There are several departments for this purpose. Some of them are: the fire department; the health department; the police department; the water department; and the street department.

These departments are made up of a large number of employees who help the mayor to carry on the business of the city government.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

What department of the city government enforces the laws?
Who is the chief executive in the city?

What are the duties of the mayor? What are his powers?
By whom is the mayor elected?

What is the name of the mayor in your city?

How long is his term of office? When was he elected?

Name some of his helpers.

LESSON VIII

THE COMMISSION FORM OF GOVERNMENT

A new form of government has been tried successfully in several cities within the last few years.

It is called the Commission form of government.

Under this form the work of governing the city is divided among a few men, usually four or five.

These men are chosen by the voters, not from any particular wards, but from the city at large.

They are men of business ability and experience, who are expected to handle the government as efficiently as if it were their own private business.

This form of government is usually headed by a mayor.1 The mayor and his assistants form the Commission. Each of these men has charge of one of the departments into which the city is divided.

Thus the work of governing and managing the city is in the hands of a few men, and they are responsible for it, just as they would be responsible for any other piece of work they were hired to do.

In some cities the commissioners give all their time to the work of managing the city.

They are paid reasonable salaries so that they do not have to do other work.

They may be dismissed if their work is not satisfactory.

City Manager Form of Government

Another new form of government is called the city manager form of government.

1 Sometimes called a president.

A Commission is elected by the voters.

This Commission chooses a manager, who handles the work of managing the city.

Questions and Topics for Discussion

What is the name of a new form of government?

Who forms the Commission?

How are the members of the Commission elected?
What is the chief officer called?

How is the work of the city divided?

What are the advantages of a Commission form of government? Describe the city manager form of government.

Is your city governed by either of these new forms of government?

LESSON IX

THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT

For the exercise of the judicial powers of government, the city has courts.

There are the police courts, where persons are tried who have been arrested for petty or minor offenses.

There are higher criminal courts for the trial of more serious offenses.

There are civil courts, where cases regarding disputes over property rights, and small amounts of money, are tried.

In many cities there are also special courts.

One of these is the juvenile court, where only young offenders are tried.

You will read more about these courts later.

In some of the larger cities there are night courts, where persons arrested at night may be tried at once.