How The Government And Community Work Together In Los Angeles

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Los Angeles is the largest municipality in the state of California and number two in the United States with an estimated population of greater than 3.5 million in 2006. The city is the seat of Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the country. With such a huge population and a widespread infrastructure, a strong, effective municipal government is a necessity.

The government is comprised of the following principal offices: mayor; city council members; and a city controller. There are also executive directors for various city departments.

The most important personage is the mayor, who is titled the chief executive officer of the city. He or she can serve for a four-year term, and by law cannot serve more than two terms. Antonio Villaraigosa, the current mayor, is the 52nd to hold that office in the city of Los Angeles.

Interestingly, the city does not have a city manager position, thus putting much more power in the mayor's office. The mayor has the power to appoint managers and commissioners, and to remove officials from their jobs. While many of the appointments are voted on by the city council, the mayor retains the power of the veto.

Just below the mayor on the totem pole is the Los Angeles City Council, the governing body. The council holds regular meetings in City Hall on appointed days of the week. It is composed of 15 members from 15 administrative districts. Each member is elected to a 4-year term. They are the highest-paid city council members in the country, and enjoy perks like a free car.

The Department of Water and Power is the largest municipal utility in the U.S., serving 3.9 million LA residents in 2006. The utility was founded in 1902.

The position of city controller functions as the city's auditor and chief accounting officer. Along with the mayor and city attorney, the position is voted on every four years. The job was established in 1878 as the city auditor.

In terms of community involvement in government, neighborhood councils were enacted in 1999. They were designed to encourage public participation in government, with the aim of making it more representative of local needs.

About the Author:
Matt Paolini is a freelance writer for CityBook.com, the family-safe online yellow pages, which carries an extensive directory of Los Angeles utilities.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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