In Tennessee, there are three major forms of local government: mayor-council, councilman manager, and commission. There are two important variations in mayor-council form of government: the citizens can decide between a part-time or full-time mayor. The City of Germantown has elected to have a part-time mayor.

The mayor acts as the presiding officer of the council and ceremonial head of the City, exercising a mayoral vote only under the circumstances of a tie.