The key difference between the commission form of local government and the council-manager form of local government lies in the roles and relationships between the executive and legislative branches.
In the commission form of local government, elected commissioners typically have both executive and legislative powers. Each commissioner supervises a specific area of government (such as public safety, public works, etc.), and they collectively make policy decisions while also managing department functions. This structure allows the same group of individuals to have an equal voice on both executive and legislative issues.
In contrast, the council-manager form of local government separates the legislative and executive responsibilities. In this model, a city council (made up of elected officials) is responsible for legislative functions, such as enacting ordinances, while a city manager (appointed by the council) serves as the chief executive officer, handling the day-to-day operations of the government and implementing the council's policies. This structure means that different individuals decide on executive (the city manager) and legislative (the city council) issues, creating a clear distinction between the two roles.
To summarize:
- In the commission form, the same individuals are involved in both legislative and executive functions.
- In the council-manager form, different individuals hold legislative and executive roles, with clear separation of duties.