The way in which the various branches of municipal administration are apportioned among members of the city commission is shown by the diagram on the other side of this page. The final administrative authority, however, is not vested with these commissioners (or councilmen as they are sometimes called). It rests with the commission or council as a body. All the lines of administrative responsibility converge inward, which is what they ought to do in any well-organized government. Above the commission or council stands the electorate, the whole body of voters, which can exercise ultimate control over the whole city government by means of the initiative, referendum, and recall. [Illustration] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Sidenote: What the plan involves.] The commission plan is simplicity itself. The people elect a board or commission of five members. This commission has entire control of the city government in all its branches with the exception of schools, which are usually left in charge of a school board. They pass the ordinances, vote appropriations, make appointments, and award contracts. For purposes of actual management the city’s administrative work is divided into five general departments (public works, public welfare, public finance, public safety, and public health, or some other such division) and one of the commissioners takes immediate charge of each. The final authority in all matters, however, remains with the commission as a whole. [Sidenote: Advantages of the commission system.] =Its Merits and Defects.=—The outstanding feature of this scheme is that it lodges all power and responsibility in one place. There is no division of authority, no checks and balances, no complicated network of officials, boards, councils, and committees. The commission meets every day; does its business publicly; takes full responsibility for its actions, and when it makes decisions sees that they are promptly carried out. The plan is so simple that any citizen can understand it. It is truly democratic in that the voters are enabled to enforce responsibility when taxes are too heavy or public funds are wasted. The commission plan tends to bring better men into office and affords them greater opportunities for the exercise of their abilities. [Sidenote: Reputed defects of commission government.] The objection is made that the commission plan, by giving so much authority to a few men, may prove to be dangerous and result in establishing an oligarchy. But the commissioners, like mayors and councils, are chosen by the people and cannot remain long in office unless the people re-elect them. Moreover, most cities that use the commission plan have established the initiative, referendum, and recall (see p. 107) as additional safeguards.