Under the Town Charter, adopted November 4, 1973 and most recently amended November 8, 1994, the Town Council acts as the legislative body. The Council consists of nine members elected biennially for terms of two years each. The Council appoints a Town Manager, who is the chief executive officer of the Town. The Town Manager and the Council are responsible for the administration of all Town matters, with the exception of the education system, Kensington and Worthington Fire Districts, and the Mattabassett District.

The Council is the budget-making authority and is responsible for financial and taxation matters, presenting the annual fiscal budget to the Annual Town Meeting for its approval, and establishing the tax rate.

The Board of Education is the policy-making body for grades pre-kindergarten through twelve.