normally by the
county council, and it is, to all intents and purposes, a council of
that variety. Much the larger portion of the English boroughs are,
however, simple municipal boroughs, whose activities are subject to a
supervision more or less constant upon the part of the county
authorities.

*199. The Borough Authorities.*--The difference between county and
municipal boroughs is thus one of degree of local autonomy, not one of
forms or agencies of government. The charters of all boroughs have
been brought into substantial agreement and the organs of borough
control are everywhere the same. The governing authority is the
borough council, which consists of councillors, aldermen, and a mayor,
sitting as a single body. The councillors, varying in number from nine
to upwards of one hundred, are elected by the voters of the borough,
either at large or by wards, for three years, and one-third retire
annually. The aldermen, equal in number to one-third of the
councillors, are chosen by the entire council for six years, and are
selected usually from among the councillors of most prolonged
experience. The mayor is elected annually by the councillors and
aldermen, frequently from their own number. In boroughs of lesser size
re-elections are not uncommon. Service in all of the capacities
mentioned is unpaid. The council determines its own rules of
procedure, and its work is accomplished in large measure through the
agency of committees, some of which are required by statute, others of
which are created as occasion demands; but, unlike the county (p. 189)
council, the council of the borough cannot delegate any of its powers,
save those relating to education, to these committees. The mayor
presides over the council meetings, serves commonly as an _ex-officio_
member of committees, and represents the municipality upon ceremonial
occasions. The office is not one of power, although it is possible for
an aggressive and tactful mayor to wield real influence. The permanent
officers of the council include a clerk, a treasurer, a medical
official, a secretary for education, and a variable number of
inspectors and heads of administrative departments.

*200. The Borough Council.*--In the capacity of representative authority
of the municipality the council controls corporation property, adopts
and executes measures relative to police and education, levies rates,
and not infrequently administers waterways, tramways, gas and electric