Madison County is organized under the township form of County government. The County Board Chairman is elected at large by all of the voters in the County. The County is divided into 26 County Board Districts with equal populations. Each district elects one member to the County Board. The Madison County Board functions as the legislative branch of the County Government and is responsible for adopting all ordinances for the governance of Madison County, approves the County budget and levies taxes.

The County Board Chairman presides over the meetings of the County Board and recommends appointments for department heads and various boards and commissions, which is approved with advice and consent of the County Board. The County Board elects by simple majority a member of the Board to serve as Chairperson Pro Tern and a different member of the Board to serve as Vice Chairperson Pro Tern for a term of two years. A Chairperson Pro Tern or Vice Chairperson Pro Tern may be removed, with or without consent.

The Chairperson Pro Tem appoints Board members to serve on the standing committees of the Board. These committees maintain an informed relationship with the departments and offices under their oversight. The Chairman of each committee regularly reports to the Chairperson Pro Tem and the full Board on the operations of their respective departments. The committees study issues within their areas of responsibility that are assigned to them and submit recommendations and resolutions to the full Board for action.

The County Board passes all ordinances, rules and regulations to implement the powers granted to counties. The Board approves all contracts and expenditures, and does all other acts necessary to exercise the corporate powers of the County. It has the authority to levy taxes for the support of County Government operations. The Board has the task of reviewing and adopting the County’s annual budget submitted by the County Board Chairman. It purchases and maintains all real and personal property owned by the County. The Board also approves and supervises the use of all federal and state grants.

The County Administrator works at the direction of the County Board to carry out Board policy, to assist in the management of Board departments and to coordinate operations with Countywide Officeholders.