City Legislature in Bismarck, Burleigh County, North Dakota

Administrative decisions for the county are not made by full-time employees of the county, but by an elected governing board of three or five Commissioners. They serve as the elected ruling body of the county government structure and typically meet once to twice a month as determined by the commission. They are responsible for the county budget, county road department, social service administration and many other county concerns. Commissioners in North Dakota can be elected at-large or in commissioner districts, depending upon the county.