Sunnyvale operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council consists of a Mayor and six Councilmembers. Historically elected at-large, the city recently transitioned to a district-based election system to ensure neighborhood-level representation.
One of Sunnyvale's most famous and defining governmental features is its **Department of Public Safety (DPS)**. Established in 1950, Sunnyvale DPS is the largest fully integrated public safety department in the United States. Every sworn officer is cross-trained as a police officer, firefighter, and emergency medical technician (EMT), allowing for highly efficient and flexible emergency responses.