Commission Plan in the United States
Municipal Government Commission Plan
Introduction to Commission Plan
The commission form of municipal government was adopted by the city of Galveston, Texas, in 1901, following a hurricane that had devastated the city the previous year. The mayor-council system, under which Galveston had been governed, was suspended by the state legislature during the crisis and was replaced by a commission composed of five members. Initially appointed but thereafter popularly elected, each of the commissioners was responsible for a single, different phase of the local administration. The commission plan proved so effective that it was widely adopted throughout the nation, and it appeared to offer an alternative to the control of cities by party machines. Certain potential drawbacks, however, may render the plan ineffective. A serious dispute among the members of the commission over a matter of policy can cause delay and confusion in the handling of urgent municipal affairs. Consequently, many cities that tried the commission plan have reverted to the mayor-council plan or adopted the newer council-manager plan. Others have retained the commission plan but have added an appointed official responsible for overall administrative oversight, without formally adopting the council-manager form.” (1)
Resources
Notes and References
- Information about Commission Plan in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia