The other main form of government is “mayor-council,” in which both an executive and a legislative council are elected by voters. The five biggest U.S. cities, and 17 of the top 25, have this form, according to the Strong Mayor-Council Institute.

St. Louis and St. Louis County are each said to have “mayor-council” forms with “strong” executives, in that the mayor or executive has formal authority outside the council, although the St. Louis mayor’s powers are diluted by independently elected officials, such as the comptroller and treasurer, who carry out some executive functions.

A few St. Louis County charter commission members noted that the change would be controversial and that if it ended up on the ballot, there would would likely be a campaign against it.

“I would guess that it’s not going to pass,” said Courtney Allen Curtis, a charter commission member.

Sarah Crosley, another charter commission member, said she’d like to “get a stronger idea of the pulse of the county.

“If they believe that this form of government would restore more trust in the county, that would be a helpful thing for us to consider,” she said.