Title: Some thoughts on the collegial leadership of the local governments

Authors: István Hoffman; Enikő Veres

Addresses: Department of Administrative Law, Eötvös Loránd University, H-1053 Budapest, Egyetem tér 1-3. I. em. 116, Hungary ' Department of Administrative Law, Eötvös Loránd University, H-1053 Budapest, Egyetem tér 1-3. I. em. 116, Hungary

Abstract: One of the fundamental organisational questions of modern self-government systems is how the collegial bodies should participate in the affairs of the local communities. In this study we would like to give a summary of some European and Northern American self-government systems to lay down the importance of the collegial bodies in the strategic, regulatory and monitoring functions of the self-governments, moreover on the everyday exercise of responsibilities and powers. Based on the main regulatory elements of the different systems three main models can be distinguished: strong, balanced and weak council models. We also examine the subtypes and characteristics thereof.

Keywords: local government; councils; council executives; decision making; comparative analysis; collegial leadership; self-government; collegial bodies; local communities; strategic functions; regulatory functions; monitoring functions; responsibilities; power; strong council models; balanced council models; weak council models; UK; United Kingdom; England; USA; United States; Germany; Austria; Belgium; Netherlands; Luxembourg; Holland; Italy; Portugal; Sweden; Hungary; France; Spain; Soviet Union; Russian Federation; Russia; public law; public policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLAP.2013.052957

International Journal of Public Law and Policy, 2013 Vol.3 No.2, pp.157 - 177

Published online: 29 Nov 2013 *

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