PLENARY EXECUTIVE SYSTEM

WHAT IS A PLENARY EXECUTIVE SYSTEM?

The simplest system of municipal government is the plenary executive system. "Plenary" means "full" or "complete". In a plenary system, executive powers are exercised by a full meeting of the municipal council. In other words, the municipal council takes all executive decisions regarding the business of the municipality. It may not delegate executive responsibilities to any individual councillor or to any committee.

Like all municipal councils, municipal councils with a plenary executive system must elect one of their members as chairperson of council. In this system, the chairperson of council is called the mayor.

WHEN WOULD A PLENARY EXECUTIVE SYSTEM WORK WELL?

Plenary executive systems are best suited to small municipal councils, or to municipal councils with a limited range of powers and duties. If a municipal council is small, it will be able to reach decisions quickly and effectively by discussing issues in plenary.

Introduction | Responsibilities of municipal councils | Delegation of powers and duties | Community participation and accountability | Municipal types | Systems of municipal government | Plenary executive system | Collective executive system | Mayoral executive system | Executive powers, duties and committees | The ward participatory system | The subcouncil participatory system | Combining the systems of government to form municipal types | Applying types to individual municipalities | Conclusion | Annexure A | Annexure B

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