What historical factors allowed a) The Mayor's Office in Chicago to have (or to appear to have) so much power relative to other major city mayors, and b) city machine politics in Chicago to survive into the present day even as machines died out or lost importance in other major US cities? | AskHistorians Archive Observer

What historical factors allowed a) The Mayor's Office in Chicago to have (or to appear to have) so much power relative to other major city mayors, and b) city machine politics in Chicago to survive into the present day even as machines died out or lost importance in other major US cities?

by thesweetestpunch

Just to clarify, I've grouped these two questions together because I have to assume that any answer to one will at least partially answer the other.

Genera1

What powers does Chicago Mayor posses, that are unique amongst mayors in other US cities? It seems that he has appointment power for city departments heads, oversees the budget and has a legislative initiative within city council. Doesn't sound like too much or out of the ordinary for this kind of office.