In a mayor-council government, the mayor is the top leader and manages the city, while the city council is responsible for making laws and is elected by citizens. In a council-manager government, the city council is responsible for making laws, while the city manager manages the city and is appointed by the city council. In both forms of government, the city council has the power to make laws and set policy, but the mayor or city manager has more executive power depending on the type of government.