The Modern Development of City Government in the United Kingdom and the United States

Democracy brings responsible and direct government--Home rule emancipates the cities--The Prominence of the personal element, a Product of separation of powers--Through home rule, the idea of efficiency is incorporated in city government--The interest in civic affairs results in great civic activity--Democracy and education determine that altruism shall evolve into equality of opportunity-- The city becomes a great social instrument--Popular opinion, based on education and local self-government, expresses itself and grapples with the problems of police, education, and finance--Gain in the quality of administration.

§ 1. A survey. Leadership was an unusually prominent factor in American city affairs in the opening years of the twentieth century. This was a natural result of the tendency to personify good government which had brought the executive to a predominant place in the nation, state, and locality. Perhaps as an inevitable outcome of separation of powers, a minimizing of the legislative branch was the accompaniment. This contrasted greatly with the dominance of the legislature under the parliamentary system.

The activity of the later years of the preceding century was a forerunner of a new phase in municipal administration. City government had now leaders, students, and a literature. Material on all aspects of the subject

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