Before Mr. Hill took the council's helm in 1987, the executive director had near-total control, and local presidents had little autonomy.

It is a theme he has repeated several times since he arrived on Wednesday in a country where the Communist Party still maintains near-total control.

Hunt was active in the Republican Party from the days when the Democrats held near-total control of the state.

The vote was 1,223 to 720, although most observers claimed this was a startlingly close election given Rieve's near-total control over the union.

As majority leader, Mr. Lott exercises near-total control over the Senate's schedule.

Prussia's near-total control over the confederation was secured in the constitution drafted for it by Bismarck in 1867.

Its near-total control was cemented in a constitution written by Bismarck.

Boston University has backed down in its quest for near-total control over Chelsea's schools by agreeing to let the city's School Committee retain some power.

The opposition should also run candidates in the federal Parliament to reduce Mr. Milosevic's near-total control.

Now the parliament is little more than a rubber stamp for the government, and the Kremlin has near-total control of the press.