City of Spokane:
The City of Spokane operates under a Mayor-Council, or "strong mayor," form of government. The change to the Strong Mayor form took place in January 2001, after 40 years under a Council-Manager form of government. The Mayor is the head of the executive branch, similar to the governor's role at the state level and the President's role at the federal level. The Deputy Mayor, meanwhile, serves in the capacity of the City's chief operating officer. The other key elected members in our government are the seven members of the City Council, who make up the legislative branch of the City's government.

Spokane County:
The Spokane County Board of Commissioners is responsible for providing legislative and administrative services to Spokane County. The purpose of this department is to identify and clarify the needs of the people, and ensure the county responds to those needs. The Board executes all legislative power authorized. These powers include, but are not limited to, adopting and enacting the budget, appropriation of expenditures and setting policy. Other powers are establishing fees and comprehensive use plans and conducting public hearings and meetings.

State:
The Washington State Legislature is the state's legislative branch. The state legislature is composed of a lower House of Representatives and an upper State Senate. The state is divided into 49 legislative districts of equal population, each of which elects two representatives and one senator. Representatives serve two-year terms, senators serve for four years. There are no term limits.

Washington's executive branch is headed by a governor elected for a four-year term. The current governor is Christine Gregoire, who has been in office since 2005.

The Washington Supreme Court is the highest court in the state. Nine justices serve on the bench and are elected statewide.

Greater Spokane Incorporated works with regional partners to maintain a presence in Olympia to advocate on behalf of the region. View the State Agenda for fiscal year 2009

Federal:
The federal government is made up of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Through a system of separation of powers each of these branches has some authority to act on its own, some authority to regulate the other two branches, and has some of its own authority, in turn, regulated by the other branches. In addition, the powers of the federal government as a whole are limited by the Constitution, which leaves a great deal of authority to the individual states.

Greater Spokane Incorporated works with regional partners to maintain a presence in Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of the region. View the Federal Agenda for fiscal year 2009

City of Spokane Valley
The City of Spokane Valley is a non-charter code city and operates under a Council-Manager plan of government. The city council has legislative authority, and has a professional administrator to implement the city's policies. There are seven council member positions, with each position under a four-year term. Elections are held every two years to stagger the positions to ensure continuity.

Airway Heights
The City of Airway Heights operates under a Council-Manager form of government. This form of government began in 2000, with the city under a Mayor-Council form of government before that. Under the Council-Manager form, the Mayor is recognized as the head of the council for ceremonial purposes.

Cheney
The City of Cheney has a strong Mayor form of government. Under this form of government, the city elects a Mayor every four years, where he or she is the Chief Executive Officer of the city council. The city council consists of seven members who are elected to serve four-year terms.

Medical Lake
Since 1890, the City of Medical Lake has operated under a Mayor-Council form of government. In this form, the Mayor has almost complete administrative authority, with the power to appoint and dismiss department heads without City Council approval. The Medical Lake City Council consists of seven individuals.

Liberty Lake
The City of Liberty Lake has a strong Mayor-Council form of  government. The Mayor chairs all City Council meetings, which are held twice a month. Seven individuals make up the City Council, where they local laws and oversee and control the city's finances.