Most common basic forms of municipal government in Texas

Research and describe the three most common basic forms of
municipal government in Texas.
• To demonstrate critical thinking skills by stating a position and
defending it with evidence.
• To develop skills of argumentation that will help you write
persuasively in the future.
Your City Governance/Critical Thinking Assignment will require you to submit a typed
essay evaluating which arrangement of city government is the most preferable.
For this exercise, you will be arguing in favor of one of the following arrangements for
the execution of city governmental functions:
• A strong mayor elected at-large with the power to make executive decisions over
all city departments; you do not need to discuss a weak mayor system
• A city manager appointed by an elected council, the manager having the power
to make executive decisions over all city departments
• An elected commission of five (5) members, each having the power to make
executive decisions within a single city department.
You can access the guide specific to this common
assignment here: GOVT 2306: Common Assignment LibGuide
Explanation of issues: First, define each of the three executive structures
and describe how each one is different from the other two, and describe what essential
executive functions (via the city’s major departments and services) each would control
and deliver at the municipal level. Use a compare and contrast format to accomplish
this.
Step Two: Assert a position/analysis presented (perspective, thesis/hypothesis): What
is the most important principle your preferred executive structure achieves and how
does your preferred structure achieve it? I suggest choosing among one of the
following principles:
• accountability
• efficiency
• equality
• equity
• representation
• responsiveness
• transparency