commission system

…are administered by an elected commission, usually consisting of three, five, or seven commissioners. Each commissioner serves as the head of one or more departments. In most cities, however, the commission system has given way to the council–manager system. Commission systems are still widely used to govern specific aspects of…

…are three basic types: mayor-council, commission, and council-manager governments. The mayor-council form, which is used in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and thousands of smaller cities, consists of an elected mayor and council. The power of mayors and councils vary from city to city; in most cities the mayor…

…is usually a board of commissioners or supervisors, whose members are elected either from county subdivisions or districts or from the county at large. The board usually has three or five members, and a four-year term is common. The county board can levy taxes and borrow money on behalf of…

…the semi-autonomous appointive boards and commissions were often eliminated and the number of council members reduced.