Naperville operates under a council-manager form of government. The city council consists of a Mayor and eight City Council members, all of whom are elected at-large by the citizens of Naperville to serve four-year terms. The Mayor and City Council serve as the legislative and policy-making body of the city.
The day-to-day operations of the city are overseen by a professional City Manager, appointed by the City Council. The City Manager is responsible for implementing council policies and managing the city's various departments, including police, fire, public works, and public utilities.
Naperville is divided between DuPage and Will counties, meaning residents are subject to their respective county governments for certain administrative functions. At the state and federal levels, Naperville is represented in the Illinois General Assembly and falls into multiple U.S. Congressional districts due to its size and geographic spread.