Branch Out with the 2025 ISA Municipal Arborist Challenge – Master Your Tree-Mendous Future!

The description fits a Weak-Mayor System, where the city council holds the primary authority regarding policy-making, while the mayor primarily focuses on administrative responsibilities. In this system, the mayor does not have significant power to unilaterally enact policies or control the budget, which allows the city council to dictate the direction of the city's governance.

In a Weak-Mayor System, the role of the mayor is often somewhat limited when it comes to decision-making; they may serve more as a figurehead or facilitator for the council's decisions, highlighting the collaborative governance structure between the mayor and the council. This contrasts with other systems where the mayor has greater powers.

For instance, in a Strong-Mayor System, the mayor possesses substantial authority, often including veto power and significant control over the budget, enabling a more centralized leadership model. The Council-City Manager System emphasizes a professional city manager responsible for executive functions, with the council focusing on broader policy direction, which differs from the delineation in a Weak-Mayor System. Finally, a Direct Democracy System empowers citizens to make decisions on specific issues directly rather than through representatives, which does not align with the structure described in the question.

This understanding of a Weak-Mayor System is essential for grasping the nuances of