The City of Columbia has a Council–Manager form of government. The City Council is composed of the mayor and six ward representatives, an unpaid elected body empowered by the charter to pass ordinances, establish policies, determine zoning, approve subdivisions, amend the city land-use plan, make appointments to boards and commissions and pass final judgement on most issues of government interest. The council directly supervises the city manager, the city clerk, and three municipal judges. The city manager is the chief administrator of Columbia and all municipal department heads report to the manager directly.

The city is divided into six wards, and each elects one representative to the council every three years on a rotating basis and elections are held each April. The mayor is elected every three years as a council member at large. The mayor presides over meetings and has the sole responsibility for some appointments to boards or commissions. For more information contact the Daniel Boone Building, 701 E. Broadway, 65201 (573-874-7111).

Boone County was organized in 1820. The major decision-making body for the county is the county commission. The commission is composed of three commissioners; a presiding commissioner, who serves a four-year term and is elected from the entire county, and two district commissioners, who serve four-year terms and are elected from districts. In 1991, Boone County became a First Class county. The commission operates within the limits of statutes enacted by the state legislature. For more information, contact the Boone County Government Center, 801 E Walnut St, Room 245, Columbia MO 65201 (573-886-4305).