Aetna Township operates under a general law township government structure. The township is governed by an elected Township Board, which typically consists of a Supervisor, a Clerk, a Treasurer, and two Trustees. These officials handle local zoning, property tax assessment, elections, and township road maintenance in coordination with the county.
For broader administrative, law enforcement, and judicial functions, the township relies on Mecosta County, which is headquartered in Big Rapids. At the state and federal levels, Aetna Township is represented in the Michigan State Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives through designated districts that encompass rural central Michigan.