Tamil Nadu is governed by a parliamentary system of representative democracy, similar to other Indian states. The Governor, appointed by the President of India, serves as the ceremonial head of state. Executive authority lies with the Chief Minister, who is the head of the government and leads the Council of Ministers.
The state has a unicameral legislature, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, comprising 234 elected members. Administratively, the state is divided into 38 districts, each governed by a District Collector. At the national level, Tamil Nadu is represented by 39 members in the Lok Sabha (lower house) and 18 members in the Rajya Sabha (upper house). For decades, the political landscape has been dominated by two major Dravidian parties: the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).