Allentown runs as a Pennsylvania third-class city and has a strong Mayor-Council setup. The mayor is elected for four year terms and leads and handles city matters. There are seven elected members on the City Council and they make decisions together about city laws. There's also the City Controller, who watches over the city's finances and is elected for four years.

The Home Rule charter, decided on by voters in 1996, says what each elected person can do and how voters can propose new laws through a process called 'initiative and referendum'.

Allentown is situated in Lehigh County, in Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district.