<P> The council--manager form is much like a publicly traded corporation . Under the form, an elected governing body, usually called a council, board of aldermen, or similar title, is responsible for legislative functions such as establishing policy, passing local ordinances, voting appropriations, and developing an overall vision, similar to a corporate board of directors . The legislative body appoints a professional manager to oversee the administrative operations, implement its policies, and advise it . The manager position is similar to that of corporate chief executive officer (CEO), providing professional management to the board of directors . The position of "mayor" present in this type of legislative body is a largely ceremonial title, and may be selected by the council from among its members or elected as an at - large council member with no executive functions, similar to a non-executive chairman in a corporation . </P> <P> This system of government is used in 40.1% of American cities with populations of 2,500 or more, according to the 2011 Municipal Yearbook published by the International City / County Management Association (ICMA), a professional organization for city managers and other top appointed local government administrators . </P> <P> The concept of the council--manager form of government was a product of a confluence of the prevailing modes of thought during the late 19th and early 20th centuries . Probably the foremost influence was the Progressive Movement; following along the thought lines of the movement, the municipal reformers of that time wanted to rid municipalities of the pervasive "political machine" form of government and the abuses of the spoils system . The thought was to have a politically impartial administrator or manager to carry out the administrative function . </P> <P> Another influence was the "Scientific Management" movement, often associated with Frederick Winslow Taylor . The focus of this movement was to run organizations in an objective, scientific fashion to maximize efficiency, among other things . </P>

In theory the council-manager form of government has