Editing Rome, Georgia (section)

==Government==
[[File:Historic City Hall in Rome, GA, US.jpg|thumb|City Hall]]
The city of Rome commission-manager form of government was adopted in 1918. The city's charter as approved by the legislature authorized a nine-member City Commission and a five-member Board of Education, to be elected concurrently, on an [[at-large]] basis by a [[plurality (voting)|plurality]] of the vote. The city was divided into nine wards, with one city commissioner from each ward to be chosen in the citywide election. There was no residency requirement for Board of Education candidates.

In 1966, after the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]] (VRA) was passed, the city amended its charter with approval by the state legislature, reducing the number of wards from nine to three, with commission members to be elected by [[at-large]] voting to numbered positions, three for each ward, with three wards in total. Candidates were required to win by majority vote, with run-off elections between the top two candidates for each seat if no majority emerged after the first round of voting.

From 1964 to 1975, the legislature approved the city's 60 acts for annexations, which appropriated mostly areas with white-majority populations.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}{{clarify|reason=I would presume that white majority areas produce a higher real estate tax than black majority areas. Also, the area usually needs to request or agree to annexation which presumes an interest in paying higher taxes incumbent on city dwellers. The way this is worded implies racial prejudice|date=March 2015}}

At the same time, the board of education was increased to six members elected from three wards, with two numbered positions to be elected [[at-large]] from the city for each ward, A majority vote was required to win, with runoff procedures to apply to the top two candidates if no majority was achieved. A residency requirement was added for the board members.

This entire proposal was subject to review under the VRA. The city challenged the attorney general's authority to reject the annexation and electoral systems for each, as plaintiffs believed the reduction in seats and requirement for majority ranking to win would dilute the voting power of the African-American minority. In 1970, the city had a population of 30,759, with an ethnic composition of 76.6% White and 23.4% Black. Under the state constitution and previous practices making voter registration difficult, African Americans had been essentially [[disenfranchised]] since the turn of the 20th century.

In ''City of Rome v. United States'', 446 U.S. 156 (1980), the US Supreme Court ruled on the city's argument that the attorney general had acted incorrectly in failing to approve the city's changes to its election system and its annexations. (The city did not seek pre-clearance of its charter changes to its election system in 1966, nor did it get approval of its 60 annexations from November 1, 1964, to February 10, 1975, which were both required under the law.)

The court upheld the constitutionality of the act, including the prohibition of unintentional discrimination to mitigate the potential that a jurisdiction may engage in intentional discrimination. Because of these findings, the court affirmed the lower court ruling.

In the 2000 census, [[White (U.S. Census)|White Americans]] made up 63.12% of the population, African Americans made up 27.66% of the city's population, and other minorities comprised the remainder. A total of 10.36% of residents identified as Hispanics of any race. The nine-member commission elects a mayor and vice mayor from among its members for specific terms. In addition, the commission hires a city manager for daily operations.

Commission members are elected [[at-large]] from three wards of the city; each ward has three seats on the commission. All voters vote for candidates for each position; and candidates may be elected by plurality voting. Members are elected for four-year staggered terms, with commissioners from wards 1 and 3 elected at the same time, and commissioners from ward 2 two years later.<ref name="city">[http://www.romefloyd.com/Administration/CommissionsandBoards/RomeCity/tabid/334/Default.aspx "City of Rome Organization"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401113351/http://www.romefloyd.com/Administration/CommissionsandBoards/RomeCity/tabid/334/Default.aspx |date=April 1, 2015 }}, Rome/Floyd County website</ref>