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44-619: San Antonio has a council-manager form of government in which the city manager, Erik Walsh , is the city's main, albeit unelected, executive. The mayor of San Antonio presides over the city council; Ron Nirenberg was elected to his fourth term as mayor in June 2023. San Antonio is divided into 10 districts for purposes of electoral representation in the council. Candidates are elected to office in non-partisan races. The council members are, as of June 2023, as follows: There are 10 committees on which San Antonio council members may serve. Each committee

88-410: A Bronx County Democratic leader who ran the borough from 1922 until his death in 1953, Safire wrote "the so-called 'independent' voter is foolish to assume that a political machine is run solely on good will, or patronage. For it is not only a machine; it is an army. And in any organization as in any army, there must be discipline." Political patronage, while often associated with political machines,

132-484: A boss. All there is to it is having friends, doing things for people, and then later on they'll do things for you ... You can't coerce people into doing things for you—you can't make them vote for you. I never coerced anybody in my life. Wherever you see a man bulldozing anybody he don't last long. Theodore Roosevelt , before he became president in 1901, was deeply involved in New York City politics. He explains how

176-480: A city, county, or state". William Safire , in his Safire's Political Dictionary , defines "machine politics" as "the election of officials and the passage of legislation through the power of an organization created for political action". He notes that the term is generally considered pejorative, often implying corruption. Hierarchy and discipline are hallmarks of political machines. "It generally means strict organization", according to Safire. Quoting Edward Flynn ,

220-555: A combination of name-recognition, business contacts and financial resources, and the role of personal political machines. The phrase is considered derogatory "because it suggests that the interest of the organization are placed before those of the general public", according to Safire. Machines are criticized as undemocratic and inevitably encouraging corruption. Since the 1960s, some historians have reevaluated political machines, considering them corrupt but efficient. Machines were undemocratic but responsive. They were also able to contain

264-404: A corporate board of directors . The council or commission appoints a city manager to oversee the administrative operations, implement its policies, and advise it. The manager position is similar to that of a corporate chief executive officer appointed by a board of directors. The position of " mayor " present in this type of legislative body is a largely ceremonial title, and may be selected by

308-455: A hierarchical system with a " boss " who held the allegiance of local business leaders, elected officials and their appointees, and who knew the proverbial buttons to push to get things done. Benefits and problems both resulted from the rule of political machines. This system of political control—known as " bossism "—emerged particularly in the Gilded Age . A single powerful figure (the boss)

352-491: A pejorative sense. The terms "machine" and "boss" in the 19th century were negative epithets used by their reform-minded opponents. However in the 20th century these became standard terms for scholars and analysts who sometimes emphasized their positive contributions. The Encyclopædia Britannica defines "political machine" as "a party organization, headed by a single boss or small autocratic group, that commands enough votes to maintain political and administrative control of

396-443: A response to some perceived limitations of the city commission government form. Since it relies on candidates being elected at-large, minority populations are often unable to elect candidates of their choice. In addition, it may concentrate too much power in individual commissioners, who also manage city departments. The council–manager form became the preferred alternative for progressive reform. After World War I , few cities adopted

440-467: A simple majority at any time. It is used in roughly 40% of American cities. The council-manager system is similar to the typical governance of a publicly traded corporation . Under the form, an elected governing body, usually called a city 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

484-401: A strong party whip structure. Machines sometimes have a political boss , typically rely on patronage , the spoils system , "behind-the-scenes" control, and longstanding political ties within the structure of a representative democracy. Machines typically are organized on a permanent basis instead of a single election or event. The term "machine" usually is used by its reform-minded enemies in

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528-437: A win, there was less need to recruit new members, as this only meant a thinner spread of the patronage rewards to be spread among the party members. As such, later-arriving immigrants, such as Jews, Italians, and other immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe between the 1880s and 1910s, saw fewer rewards from the machine system than the well-established Irish. At the same time, the machines' staunchest opponents were members of

572-403: Is characterized by a high degree of leadership control over member activity. The machine's power is based on the ability of the boss or group to get out the vote for their candidates on election day. While these elements are common to most political parties and organizations, they are essential to political machines, which rely on hierarchy and rewards for political power, often enforced by

616-477: Is listed here with its current Chair, as of June 2023: San Antonio municipal elections are held every two years in May, with runoffs scheduled in June, if necessary. Council members from all ten districts and the mayoral office are up for election during each of these municipal elections. Since 2008, council members and mayors are limited to a total of four two-year terms. Each council member receive $ 45,722 annually while

660-448: Is not essential to the definition for either Safire or Britannica . A political machine is a party organization that recruits its members by the use of tangible incentives—money, political jobs—and that is characterized by a high degree of leadership control over member activity. Political machines started as grass roots organizations to gain the patronage needed to win the modern election. Having strong patronage, these "clubs" were

704-673: Is used as a shield against federal and state laws against the practice. In the 1960s and 1970s, Edward Costikyan , Ed Koch , Eleanor Roosevelt , and other reformers worked to do away with Tammany Hall of New York County . To a lesser degree, the Democratic Party machines in Kings, Bronx, and Queens counties continued until the end of the 1980s. Japan's Liberal Democratic Party is often cited as another political machine, maintaining power in suburban and rural areas through its control of farm bureaus and road construction agencies. In Japan,

748-465: Is used in 40.1% of American cities with populations of 2,500 or more, according to the 2011 Municipal Yearbook published by ICMA. 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

792-706: The Fianna Fáil government. Under the County Management Act 1940 , which was brought into operation in August 1942, a county manager is the manager of every borough or town in that county, but since the 1990s, has the power to delegate these functions to any other officer of that borough or town council. The system was modified also in subsequent legislation, particularly the City and County Management (Amendment) Act 1955 , which made some adjustments to give greater power to

836-453: The 1790s to the 1960s. From 1872, Tammany had an Irish "boss". However, Tammany Hall also served as an engine for graft and political corruption, perhaps most notoriously under William M. "Boss" Tweed in the mid-19th century. Lord Bryce describes these political bosses saying: An army led by a council seldom conquers: It must have a commander-in-chief, who settles disputes, decides in emergencies, inspires fear or attachment. The head of

880-608: The Deep South, where small-town machine politics are relatively common, also feature what might be classified as political machines, although these organizations do not have the power and influence of the larger boss networks listed in this article. For example, the " Cracker Party " was a Democratic Party political machine that dominated city politics in Augusta, Georgia , for over half of the 20th century. Political machines also thrive on Native American reservations, where tribal sovereignty

924-446: The Ring is such a commander. He dispenses places, rewards the loyal, punishes the mutinous, concocts schemes, negotiates treaties. He generally avoids publicity, preferring the substance to the pomp of power, and is all the more dangerous because he sits, like a spider, hidden in the midst of his web. He is a Boss. When asked if he was a boss, James Pendergast said simply, I've been called

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968-596: The annual end-year gift in 1989, LDP Party Headquarters gave $ 200,000 to every member of the Diet. Supporters collect benefits such as money payments distributed by politicians to voters in weddings, funerals, New year parties among other events, and ignore their patrons' wrongdoings in exchange. Political ties are held together by marriages between the families of elite politicians. Nisei , second generation political families, have grown increasingly numerous in Japanese politics, due to

1012-757: The city's experience of commissioners and recent experience in the United States a council–manager plan of city government was proposed. After discussion between the minister for local government and local representatives, the minister, Richard Mulcahy, introduced as a government measure, the Cork City Management Bill 1929 and it became law despite opposition. The minister proposed and the Oireachtas enacted similar provision for Dublin City in 1930. Similar laws were passed for Limerick in 1934 and Waterford in 1939 under

1056-561: The commission form and many cities using the commission plan switched to the council–manager form. By 2001 there were 3,302 cities with a population over 2,500 and 371 counties using the council–manager system. Phoenix, Arizona , is the largest city in the United States to retain a council–manager government. Since the turn of the 21st century, there have been studies about hybrid forms of local governments that take elements of both council–manager and mayor–council forms. The cities that have modified their organizational structure from one of

1100-408: The common heelers. Many machines formed in cities to serve immigrants to the U.S. in the late 19th century who viewed machines as a vehicle for political enfranchisement . Machine workers helped win elections by turning out large numbers of voters on election day. It was in the machine's interests to only maintain a minimally winning amount of support. Once they were in the majority and could count on

1144-409: The council from among its members or elected as an at-large council member with no executive functions, similar to a non-executive chairperson in a corporation. The International City/County Management Association (ICMA), a professional organization for city managers, has listed at least three defining characteristics that distinguish a true council–manager government: This system of government

1188-560: The council from among themselves The council–manager government is a form of local government commonly used for municipalities and counties in the United States and Ireland , in New Zealand regional councils , and in Canadian municipalities . In the council-manager government, an elected city council hires a manager to serve as chief executive ; this manager can be replaced by

1232-716: The council members, and the Local Government Act 1985 , which provided for the council–manager system in Galway City once detached for local government purposes from County Galway . The above acts have been replaced since that time, in substantially the same form, by the Local Government Act 2001 . The council-manager form of local government was originally introduced into the West German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia by post-WWII legislation. It

1276-549: The fledgling profession and caught the eye of Richard S. Childs , who would become known as the "father" of the council–manager form of government. The first large city to adopt the council–manager form was Dayton, Ohio , in 1913. Ohio Progressives organizing for the city manager plan also prioritized proportional representation with adoption in Ashtabula , Cincinnati , Cleveland , Hamilton , and Toledo . The council–manager form of government developed, at least in part, as

1320-475: The informal or extralegal aides provided by machines. In the 1940s most of the big city machines collapsed, with the exception of Chicago. A local political machine in Tennessee in the 1930s and 1940s was forcibly removed in what was known as the 1946 Battle of Athens . Smaller communities such as Parma, Ohio , in the post–Cold War era under Prosecutor Bill Mason's "Good Old Boys" and especially communities in

1364-450: The machine worked: The organization of a party in our city is really much like that of an army. There is one great central boss, assisted by some trusted and able lieutenants; these communicate with the different district bosses, whom they alternately bully and assist. The district boss in turn has a number of half-subordinates, half-allies, under him; these latter choose the captains of the election districts, etc., and come into contact with

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1408-578: The machines. In the 1930s, James A. Farley was the chief dispenser of the Democratic Party's patronage system through the Post Office and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) which eventually nationalized many of the job benefits machines provided. The New Deal allowed machines to recruit for the WPA and Civilian Conservation Corps , making Farley's machine the most powerful. All patronage

1452-670: The main driving force in gaining and getting out the "right party vote" in the election districts. The term "political machine" dates back to the 19th century in the United States, where such organizations have existed in some municipalities and states since the 18th century. In the late 19th century, large cities in the United States— Boston , Chicago , Cleveland , Kansas City , New York City , Philadelphia , St. Louis , Memphis —were accused of using political machines. During this time "cities experienced rapid growth under inefficient government". Each city's machine lived under

1496-463: The mayor receives $ 61,725. This Texas -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Council-manager Executive mayor elected by the people, elected legislative City council Council - Manager Executive leader elected by the council from among themselves Elected mayor and cabinet Executive mayor elected by the people Committee system Executive leader and executive committees elected by

1540-472: The middle class, who were shocked at the malfeasance and did not need the financial help. The corruption of urban politics in the United States was denounced by private citizens. They achieved national and state civil-service reform and worked to replace local patronage systems with civil service . By Theodore Roosevelt 's time, the Progressive Era mobilized millions of private citizens to vote against

1584-444: 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. Staunton, Virginia , is credited as the first American city to appoint a city manager, which it did in 1908. This appointment attracted attention to

1628-582: The pure forms have been called "adaptive" forms. Following the turmoil of World War I (1914–1918), the 1916 rising , the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921), and the Irish Civil War (1921–1923), the Irish government found it necessary to remove the members of several local authorities and replace them temporarily by paid commissioners. Both Dublin and Cork city councils were so removed. In both cities, there

1672-527: The same time, as Dennis R. Judd and Todd Swanstrom suggest in City Politics that this view accompanied the common belief that there were no viable alternatives. They go on to point out that this is a falsehood, since there are certainly examples of reform oriented, anti-machine leaders during this time. In his mid-2016 article "How American Politics Went Insane" in The Atlantic , Jonathan Rauch argued that

1716-620: The spending demands of special interests. In Mayors and Money , a comparison of municipal government in Chicago and New York, Ester R. Fuchs credited the Cook County Democratic Organization with giving Mayor Richard J. Daley the political power to deny labor union contracts that the city could not afford and to make the state government assume burdensome costs like welfare and courts. Describing New York, Fuchs wrote, "New York got reform, but it never got good government." At

1760-460: The word jiban (literally "base" or "foundation") is the word used for political machines. For decades, the LDP was able to dominate rural constituencies by spending heavily on rural areas, forming clientelist bonds with many groups and especially agriculture. Japanese political factional leaders are expected to distribute mochidai (literally snack-money) funds to help subordinates win elections. For

1804-447: Was a body of opinion that the services provided by the councils were delivered more efficiently and fairly under the commissioners than under the previous system, where the executive function had been, in effect, vested in the councils and their committees. In 1926, a committee of commercial and industrial interests in Cork came together to consider a scheme of city government. Having regard to

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1848-437: Was abolished in the mid-1990s when changes to local government law resulted in the adoption of the mayor-council system. The equivalent German term for the position of city manager was Oberstadtdirektor . Political machine In the politics of representative democracies , a political machine is a party organization that recruits its members by the use of tangible incentives (such as money or political jobs) and that

1892-545: Was at the center and was bound together to a complex organization of lesser figures (the political machine) by reciprocity in promoting financial and social self-interest. One of the most infamous of these political machines was Tammany Hall , the Democratic Party machine that played a major role in controlling New York City and New York politics and helping immigrants, most notably the Irish, rise up in American politics from

1936-423: Was screened through Farley, including presidential appointments. The New Deal machine fell apart after he left the administration over the third term issue in 1940 . Those agencies were, for the most part, abolished in 1943, and the machines suddenly lost much of their patronage. The formerly poor immigrants who had benefited under Farley's national machine had become assimilated and prosperous, and no longer needed

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