Editing Philadelphia Home Rule Charter (section)

== Background ==

Before 1951, Philadelphia operated under a complex governmental structure inherited from the nineteenth century consolidation of the city and county. A weak mayor presided over a large city council while numerous row offices—independently elected officials like the coroner, register of wills, and others—exercised autonomous authority. This fragmentation enabled political machine control while hampering efficient administration. Reformers had sought governmental modernization for decades before achieving success in 1951.<ref name="charter"/>

The reform movement gained momentum after World War II as civic groups, business leaders, and reform-minded politicians organized for change. The Greater Philadelphia Movement, a coalition of business leaders, worked with reform Democrats and Republicans to build support for charter revision. A 1949 referendum authorized the election of a charter commission to draft a new governing document.<ref name="charter"/>