The council-manager form of government was enacted in Maryville in 1967. The Tennessee legislature, through Private Act, approved an amendment to the 1927 charter allowing the change to council-manager government, providing the city's voters approved. The council-manager form of government was voted in by a majority of the electorate March 13, 1967. Click here  for the City of Maryville Charter. 
 
This system combines the strong political leadership of elected officials in the form of the council with the strong managerial experience of the local government manager. Its purpose is to provide a council which is strong because it is elected by the people to govern the community, and a manager chosen by the council to carry out the council's programs. 

The Council sets policy, approves the budget, and determines the tax rate. It also hires the manager and supervises the individual's performance. The city manager prepares a recommended budget for the council's action, serves as the council's chief advisor, recruits and hires the government's staff, and carries out the council's policies. 

Because the council is the legislative body, its members are the community's decision makers. The manager is hired to serve the council as its full-time executive whose job it is to bring to the community the benefit of training and experience in administering a local government's staff, projects and programs on behalf of the council. 

The manager makes recommendations to the council, but the council may change or modify them. The manager is bound by whatever action the council takes. Almost all council-manager communities have a mayor who is a leader in developing community policies. Maryville's Mayor is Tom Taylor. With the council, the mayor is responsible for soliciting citizen views in forming these policies and interpreting them to the public. The mayor also represents the city in official functions, appoints advisory committees, coordinates their work, and maintains liaison with other governmental agencies and civic groups. 

Maryville City Council members are elected to serve a four-year term. The council seats are based on staggered terms. Three council representatives are elected in one year and the remaining two seats are up for election two years later. The mayor is selected every two years by a majority vote of the council. 

To vote in City of Maryville elections a person must live or own property within the city limits. Voter registration is conducted by the Blount County Election Commission located in the Blount County Courthouse, 383 Court St., Maryville. The telephone number for the Election Commission is 983-0401.