Mount Carmel has a strong mayor-council form of government.  The Mayor chairs all meetings of the City Council.  The Mayor and four members of the City Council work part-time, holding budget and policy-setting authority for the City.

The Mayor and City Council members are elected at large by popular vote.  City Council members are elected to a specific Council seat, but the seats are not determined geographically.

City elections are held in odd numbered years every fourth year (e.g. 2007, 2011, 2015).

The City Clerk’s Office provides centralized direction and leadership for the effective administration and operations of all municipal services for the City of Mount Carmel as directed by the City Council and serves as the focal point for the management of the City staff agencies.  The City Clerk's Office prepares and submits to the City Council a balanced plan of municipal services in adherence with the policy goals and objectives established by the City Council while employing such managerial techniques as needed to assure efficient and effective utilization of the City's resources.