Since last week, when Detroit became the largest American metropolis ever to file for bankruptcy, Mayor Dave Bing has appeared, in subdued tones, as a voice for his city. His office has issued statements, and he has turned up on network television. And in the hours immediately after the court filing on Thursday, Mr. Bing stood in his 11th-floor briefing room along with Detroit’s emergency manager, Kevyn D. Orr, fielding questions about how the city had reached such a dire spot.

“As tough as this is — I really didn’t want to go in this direction — but now that we’re here, we have to make the best of it,” Mr. Bing said that evening. Unsaid was that Mr. Orr and Gov. Rick Snyder, who appointed Mr. Orr to solve the city’s financial troubles, were the only ones with a formal role in Detroit’s decision to seek Chapter 9 protection.

Under Michigan’s law for cities teetering on the edge of collapse, which provides broad powers to emergency managers, Mr. Bing finds himself in a rare and somewhat perplexing position — still the mayor, but with no say on his city’s biggest choices.

“He’s been so embarrassed by all of this and so neutered,” said Steve Hood, a political consultant in Detroit.