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How does the commission form of city government work?
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local government
A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official addressing the Watonga City Council to discuss aid for flood victims, Watonga, Oklahoma, 2007.
The commission form of city government is a system of municipal administration where voters elect a small board of officials, typically consisting of three, five, or seven members, known as commissioners.12
How the System Works
In this structure, the commission functions as a multiheaded body that exercises both legislative and executive powers. The operational responsibilities are divided as follows:13
- Departmental Oversight: Each elected commissioner serves as the head of one or more specific city departments, such as public works, finance, or public safety.123
- Legislative and Executive Roles: The commissioners collectively act as the legislative body for the city, while simultaneously serving as the executive administrators for their respective departments.3
- Leadership: The presiding member of the commission is generally designated as the mayor, though their role is often primarily to chair the commission and officiate at formal functions.2
While this form of government was more common in the early 20th century, it has largely been superseded in many American cities by the council-manager system. Today, the commission model is more frequently utilized to govern specific local functions, such as school systems, parks, water authorities, and airports.12