Problems in American Democracy Part 68

The first city to apply the city manager plan was Dayton, Ohio, which began the experiment on January 1, 1914. Since that date the plan, or some variation of it, has been established in about a hundred cities.

The city manager plan is an improvement over the commission plan, in that it allows a greater concentration of responsibility. Another advantage over commission government is that the city manager plan insures a high grade of professional skill at the apex of the city's administration. The plan appears to work well in the smaller cities, provided a high grade manager can be found, and provided, also, that his position can be safeguarded against corrupting political influences.

QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT

1. What four questions are discussed in this chapter?

2. Why are American legislatures overwhelmed with work?

3. What are the merits and defects of the committee system?

4. What is log-rolling, and why is it objectionable?

5. What is the purpose of the legislative bureau?

6. What is the function of the expert bill drafter?

7. What are the chief defects of state administration?

8. What has been done to correct these defects?

9. Discuss the movement toward a national budget.

10. What are the three forms of budget making in state government?

11. What is the mayor-council plan, and what changes are being brought about in it?

12. What is the commission plan of city government? How did it arise?

What can be said for and against it?

13. Compare the commission plan with the city manager plan.

14. What is the chief merit of the city manager plan?

Required Readings

1. Williamson, _Readings in American Democracy_, chapter x.x.xvi.

Or all of the following:

2. Bryce, _The American Commonwealth_, vol. i, chapter xlv.

3. Munro, _The Government of the United States_, chapter x.x.xi.

4. Reed, _Form and Functions of American Government_, chapter xli.

5. Illinois Efficiency and Economy Committee, Report, 1915, pages 18- 24 and 74-77.

QUESTIONS ON THE REQUIRED READINGS

1. What are the chief defects of state government in general? (Bryce, page 556.)

2. What is a book of estimates? (Reed, page 483.)

3. Describe the procedure in Congress with regard to appropriation bills. (Reed, page 484.)

4. How are provisions against special legislation evaded in some states? (Bryce, page 559.)

5. Enumerate and briefly characterize the chief administrative offices in the various states. (Munro, pages 447-457.)

6. What are the two distinctive features of state administration?

(Munro, pages 457-458.)

7. What are the chief defects of state administration? (Illinois Report, pages 18-24.)

8. Summarize the advantages of a reorganized and consolidated state administration. (Illinois Report, pages 74-77.)

9. What is the purpose of a "state auditing" system? (Reed, page 489.)

10. Explain the need for uniform accounts for cities and counties?

(Reed, pages 491-492.)

TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPORT

I

1. Interview any citizen of your community who has served in the state legislature. Ask for his personal opinion concerning the amount of legislative business to be transacted, the workings of the committee system, and the practice of log-rolling.

2. Status of the expert bill-drafter and the legislative reference bureau in your state. If these devices have not been adopted, interview or write to a member of the state legislature concerning his opinion of these legislative aids.

3. The enactment of appropriation bills in your state legislature.

4. The development of the administrative department in your state.

5. Make a diagram showing the relations of the various boards and commissions embraced in the administrative department of your state.

Point out instances of duplication and lack of coordination. Draw up a plan for consolidating these boards and commissions.

6. The budget in your state.

7. Form of government in your munic.i.p.ality.

II

8. The business of Congress. (McCall, _The Business of Congress_.)