The County is governed by five commissioners, one from each commission district. The commissioners are elected to serve four-year terms, which are staggered so that one commissioner stands for election every two years. Each commissioner is nominated from the district in which they reside but is elected by the voters of the entire county.
A candidate for the County Commission must be:
- -at least eighteen years of age
- -a U.S. citizen and a resident of the commissioner district at least two years before election
- -a qualified elector of the county
County Commissioners meet daily. Their meetings and the minutes of the meetings are open to the public. Commissioners administer all laws relating to county matters that are passed by the State Legislature. Their offices are located on the third floor of the Administrative Center, located at 215 South 4th Street, Hamilton, Montana.
A chief administrator may be hired by the County Commissioners with his/her duties defined by them.