The City of Garland operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council consists of a Mayor, who is elected at-large by all city voters, and eight City Council members, each elected to represent a specific geographic district. The Council is responsible for setting policy, passing ordinances, and approving the city budget.
Day-to-day operations are overseen by a professional City Manager appointed by the Council. Garland provides a comprehensive suite of municipal services, including police, fire, emergency medical services, parks and recreation, and libraries.
Uniquely for a Texas city of its size, Garland owns and operates its own municipal electric utility, Garland Power & Light (GP&L), providing local control over energy distribution in a state where electricity is largely deregulated.