The City of San Jose operates under a council-manager form of government. The San Jose City Council consists of ten council members, each elected by district, and a mayor who is elected at large. The mayor serves as the political head of the city and a voting member of the council, but the day-to-day administrative operations are overseen by a professional City Manager appointed by the council.
As the county seat of Santa Clara County, San Jose is also the center of regional government services. Public services are extensive, including the San Jose Police Department, the San Jose Fire Department, and numerous community, parks, and housing initiatives aimed at supporting its large population.