How much citizen participation is possible under council-manager government?
Successful examples of citizen participation in the local government service delivery decision-making process are widespread among professionally managed U.S. communities. Because professional local government management offers government of the people, by the people, and for the people, it sets the stage for citizens and their government. Examples range from visioning, in which citizens play a major role in determining the future of their community, to neighborhood service delivery, which involves residents through the development of citizen / government partnerships, to community-oriented local government services. Because political power is concentrated in the entire governing body rather than one elected official, more citizens have an opportunity to be elected to a position in which they have significant influence over the future of their community.

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1. What is the council-manager form, which is used in so many local governments?
2. Is it a responsive form of government?
3. What is the council's function?
4. What is the manager's function?
5. What is the cost to the local government of appointing a professional manager?
6. Does the manager participate in policy determination?
7. Where does the mayor fit in?
8. Are all council-manager governments structured the same way?
9. Is this form of government used only in certain kinds of cities?
10. How many Americans live in communities that operate under council-manager government?
11. Is the form popular in large communities?
12. How much citizen participation is possible under council-manager government?
13. What is the history of the council-manager form?
14. How can a community adopt this form of government?
15. How is the manager selected?
16. Does the manager have to be a local resident at the time the appointment is made?
17. What salary does the manager receive?
18. Can the manager be fired?
19. Where do managers get their prior experience?