Legal Definitions - commission plan

A commission plan is a type of municipal government where a small group of elected officials hold both legislative and executive power. This means that the same people who make the laws also enforce them.

Although commission plans were once common, they are now only used in a few cities.

One example of a commission plan is the government of Galveston, Texas. The city is run by a five-member commission, with each member responsible for a different area of government, such as finance or public safety.

Another example is the city of Hialeah, Florida, which also has a five-member commission. In this case, the mayor is chosen from among the commissioners and serves as the city's chief executive.

These examples illustrate how a commission plan works by showing how a small group of elected officials have both legislative and executive power. This can make decision-making more efficient, but it also concentrates power in the hands of a few people.