Mayor-Council
Mayor-council government is one of the four forms of government in Massachusetts. At present, 47 municipalities have a mayor-council government. Three of these cities have a city manager in addition to a mayor and council (Cambridge, Lowell, and Worcester).
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Mayor-council governments typically feature an elected executive officer called the mayor and an elected legislative body called the city council.
Council size may range from seven to fifteen elected members.
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Mayor-council governments fall into two categories: a strong mayor-council or a weak mayor-council. The terms "strong" or "weak" reflect the degree of political power assigned to the mayor.
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The National League of Cities (NCL) lists the following characteristics as those of a "strong" mayor:
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is the chief executive officer
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directs the administrative structure, appoints and removes department heads
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has veto power
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oversees daily operations
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In contrast, the NCL lists the following characteristics as those of a "weak" mayor:
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is not the chief executive and has limited power or no veto power​
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the city council has the power to prevent the mayor from effectively doing their job
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administrative boards and commissions may operate without oversight from the city government
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