A mayor and a nine-member city council make up Birmingham’s mayor-council system of governance. In 1962, the current system took over from the old municipal commission government (primarily as a way to remove Commissioner of Public Safety Eugene “Bull” Connor from power).

Lists of Birmingham neighborhoods and its mayors are also available.
According to Alabama law, a two-thirds majority vote is required for a city council to approve a matter (Act No. 452, Ala. Acts 1955, as supplemented by Act No. 294, Ala. Acts 1965). The Mayor’s Office is the only entity with executive authority. William A. Bell is the mayor of Birmingham at the moment. On January 19, 2010, Mayor Bell, who had previously served as interim mayor in 1999, won a special election to complete former mayor Larry Langford’s term. On October 28, 2009, Langford was removed from office following his conviction on federal corruption charges.

A systematic network of neighborhood groups and community advisory committees was developed in Birmingham in 1974 to ensure public participation in governmental decisions that affect neighborhoods. On issues including zoning amendments, liquor licensing, economic development, policing, and other city services, neighborhood associations are frequently consulted. Additionally, neighborhoods receive discretionary funding from the city budget for capital projects. Officers from each community gather with their neighbors to create Community Advisory Committees, which are given more authority over city departments. These committee presidents in turn make up the Citizens Advisory Board, which frequently meets with the mayor, council, and department heads. Birmingham is divided into 23 communities altogether, and then into 99 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own community association.

State and federal representation

Post offices are run by the United States Postal Service in Birmingham. The main post office is situated in Downtown Birmingham at 351 24th Street North. The Southeastern Program Service Center for the Social Security Administration is located in Birmingham. There are only seven facilities in the country that handle payments and requests for Social Security benefits. The Birmingham Federal Reserve Bank also has a branch office in Atlanta.