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The Mayor-Council plan of the Faulkner Act is a “strong
mayor” form of government.
It is a “presidential” system of government, roughly modeled after
the federal and state governments.
The Mayor-Council plan consists of two separate and coequal power centers,
each directly elected by the people: the Mayor as Chief Executive, and the
Council as the municipal legislature.
The Mayor-Council plan makes a virtue of the idea divided and shared power.
Neither Mayor nor Council has the absolute last word in all instances.
The system requires constant consultation between the Mayor and the Council;
sometimes cooperating, sometimes competing and conflicting; always acting as
a check and balance on the other.
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