True or False: The council form of government is often called governance by committee because of shared powers.
Answer: True
The council form of government is often called governance by committee because the mayor and councilmembers equally share legislative and administrative authority. To exercise administrative functions, the mayor or a member of council must receive authorization from council. It is common for the mayor to preside at council meetings and serve as spokesperson for council and the city.
Want to learn more? The Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government offers in-person and online courses. Elected officials who complete all of the required coursework graduate from the institute and are eligible to participate in the Advanced Institute. The next in-person sessions, held February 7, will be Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government Sessions A and B and Advanced Institute. The Advanced MEO Institute courses offered will be "Municipal Utility Policy and Administration" and "Advanced Advocacy and Intergovernmental Relations."