styles of municipal government in America

[Cynic]

So I'm trying to understand the differences between council-manager and mayor-council styles of government.

while a Poli sci professor gave me a a decent explanation of both methods. I didn't really get a good pro/con explanation between the two aside from one is like a corporation and the other isn't.

I don't know if that's a pro or a con.

[Crissa]

Well, one is more like a Democratic Administration while the other is more like a Socialist Republic.

One it's easier to paint the Mayor as good or ill, which takes weight off of the council members, and often balances their ability to graft. The other can result in a well-run city, with longer term and less popular but necessary goals with the lead position held by resume rather than popularity. But graft possibilities are easier to hide, as the Manager serves at the whim of the Council.

I've lived in both, and they both have positives and negatives. With a Mayor and Council, Council members can focus on a section of the city and still win; with a Council and a Manage Council members need to be more widely popular and tend not to represent minority factions.

Of course, this also depends if you get to have districts or not as well.

-Crissa