Int. J. Public Law and Policy, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2013 157 Some thoughts on the collegial leadership of the local governments István Hoffman* and Enikő Veres Department of Administrative Law, Eötvös Loránd University, H-1053 Budapest, Egyetem tér 1-3. I. em. 116, Hungary E-mail: hoffman.istvan@ajk.elte.hu E-mail: enistone3@gmail.com *Corresponding author Abstract: One of the fundamental organisational questions of modern self-government systems is how the collegial bodies should participate in the affairs of the local communities. In this study we would like to give a summary of some European and Northern American self-government systems to lay down the importance of the collegial bodies in the strategic, regulatory and monitoring functions of the self-governments, moreover on the everyday exercise of responsibilities and powers. Based on the main regulatory elements of the different systems three main models can be distinguished: strong, balanced and weak council models. We also examine the subtypes and characteristics thereof. Keywords: local governments; councils; local government executive; local government decision-making; comparative analysis. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Hoffman, I. and Veres, E. (2013) ‘Some thoughts on the collegial leadership of the local governments’, Int. J. Public Law and Policy, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp.157–177. Biographical notes: István Hoffman, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Law, Department of Public Administration. Enikő Veres is an MA student at the Faculty of Law of Eötvös Loránd University. 1 Short historical review The historical roots of the autonomous local-governments come from the Roman Empire. In this city-state-centred 1 ancient world the Imperium Romanum did not acknowledge the statehood of the most conquered cities, but left independence in some certain cases. 2 In these cities the administration system of the contemporary ancient city-states (polis) was at work: at an early stage of development the most important questions were decided by the hustings (composed of all the citizens). The council of the most respectable citizens (ordo decurionum, in some cities called senatus) decided in the most important questions and this body took over the tasks of the hustings as a result of the legal developments. Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.