The Walsh Act is a piece of legislation in the U.S. state of New Jersey that permits municipalities to adopt a non-partisan commission form of government.
The commissions in Walsh Act municipalities are composed of either three or five members elected for four-year concurrent terms.
With few exceptions, Walsh Act mayors have no powers over and above their fellow commissioners, and are only responsible for their specific department(s).
The Walsh Act was modeled on the commission system that was set up in Galveston, Texas in the wake of the devastating Hurricane of 1900.
The Walsh Act was the first charter law in New Jersey to include options for ballot initiatives, referendums and recall.