Question: How do people become city leaders?

Sources: Sources should include infographic or election cards (similar to service cards) that demonstrate who is elected and who is appointed; image or text from an election where local official mentions being elected by the people; image or text demonstrating/explaining an appointment.

Task: Create an illustration showing whether city officials are elected or appointed.

Vocabulary: Elected, appointed, city manager, city, candidate, at the pleasure of, serve, city council, clerk, commissioner, council member, election, administrator, government, local, mayor, official, vote

EXPLANATION: Explain the various roles in a local government, some selected by voters and others appointed. Voters select the mayor, council members or commissioners. Other positions, such as a police chief, city clerk, city manager, and fire chief are appointed to the job and serve at the pleasure of city leaders. City elections are typically held in November. The mayor and city council members (or commissioners) are elected by voters in the city. Mayors are elected for four-year terms and city legislative body members are elected for two-year terms (except Louisville Metro and the at-large council members in Lexington, who have four-year terms.)