The City of Columbia is governed by a seven-member City Council/City Manager which includes a Mayor and Vice Mayor. Voters in each of the five wards elect a council member, and the Mayor and Vice Mayor are elected by voters of the entire city. Each council member serves a four-year term. The City Manager is appointed by the council and has no term limit.

Council Meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7:30 p.m., and the general public is encouraged to attend. Agendas are available in the City Manager's Office one day before the meetings.