The municipal government established by the City Charter is known as the "Council Manager" form of government. The elective officers of the City consist of five City Council members elected at-large. The City Council elects one of its members as Mayor. The Mayor is the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes and, together with all Council members, interprets the policies, programs and needs of the City government for the people. The Council also elects a member to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore. The City Manager is the head of the administrative branch of the City government and is responsible to the City Council.

The City Council serves as the City’s primary policy-making and legislative body of the City. The Council also serves as the City's Revevelopment Agency Board and the Whittier Public Financing Authority Board, Whittier Utility Authority and the Whittier Housing Authority. The City Council adopts the City's annual operating budget and capital improvement program.

The goals of the City Council are:

• To provide a healthy, safe and efficient community, maintained physically to the highest degree, and enhanced by well-planned patterns of growth and development.
  
• To ensure a diversified community, providing a balance of economic, social, political, cultural and recreational opportunities for all residents of Whittier.
  
• To encourage an atmosphere conducive to a community spirit, encouraging citizens and groups to actively participate in the affairs and progress of their community.
  
• To ensure a visually pleasing community in which the City’s identity and character, as well as its aesthetic qualities, are preserved and enhanced.