Key Political Institutions

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After reviewing question one and recalling our class readings on how and why institutions truly matter since they shape incentives, which shape behavior, which shape policy output and outcomes. I consider local government as the formal and primary institution that influences or constrains policy making in cities. Some of the key political institutions that exist within cities are the city charter, the form of government and the city council members. All of these institutions have both formal and informal rules in which are played or shaped by those participating in the political game.
For example, the city charter is described as a document that awards power to local government and defines the cities institutions, which shape forms of government. For instance, the form of government and its city council members are main factors in which other institutional divisions are created. There are five types of city government forms: the political city, the adapted political city, the fully adapted city, the adapted administrative city and the administrative city. Out of these five the first type …show more content…

In the political city type, the people directly elect the mayor. The mayor is also full time and paid and a staff is provided. The mayor does not serve on the council but is the Chief Administrative Officer, (CAO). The council members are also full time and paid and elected by the district. Whereas the administrative city type the mayor is not directly elected but instead is selected by the council. Unlike the political city approach, the mayor is part time, not paid and does not have a staff provided. The mayor serves on the council, which appoints the CAO. The unpaid and part time council is also elected at large or by

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