Portland incorporated in 1851. Since 1913 it has operated under the commission form of city government. Voters select in nonpartisan elections a mayor and four commissioners to overlapping four-year terms. These five officials meet together as the city council to adopt budgets and make city policy. In addition, they are individually responsible for administering separate divisions of city bureaus and agencies.
Three regional public agencies play significant roles in the three core counties of the metropolitan area (Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties). The governor of Oregon appoints the commissioners of the Port of Portland and the board of the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Tri-Met), which operates the area's bus and light-rail system. Voters directly choose the council and executive of Metro, the only elected multi-county government in the United States. Metro coordinates regional planning and operates several regional services.
