Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The municipal government structure where council members embody the legislative branch and a manager serves at the discretion of the council is known as the Council-Manager Form. This type of government is characterized by the separation of powers between the elected council and the appointed manager.

In this model, the elected council is responsible for making legislative decisions, setting policies, and establishing a budget. Meanwhile, the manager is appointed by the council and is responsible for executing those policies, overseeing the daily operations of the city, and managing the administrative functions. This arrangement allows for professional management of city affairs while ensuring that elected representatives retain legislative authority.

The other forms of municipal government do not exhibit this precise structure. For instance, the Mayor-Council Form integrates the executive and legislative functions more closely, often with a directly elected mayor who has significant powers. The Town Meeting Form relies on direct citizen participation in governance, which differs from the representative and managerial model of the Council-Manager Form. The Commission Form features a group of elected officials who collectively act as both the legislative and executive branches, which further distinguishes it from the Council-Manager framework.