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Washington State legislature (state house of representatives and state senators) create laws and mandates for the state. It is up to counties to carry out what the state government has passed on. Cities and towns operate within counties, and elect their own form of government, assess taxes and other services for residents of the town or city.
Washington’s counties derive their powers from the state constitution, which establishes the legal framework for county government and lists the duties and powers of the county governing bodies. Washington counties are organized under two forms of government: the commission form and the home rule charter form.
The organization of county government is provided in Article 11 of the Washington State Constitution. The counties of the Territory of Washington that existed at the time of statehood are recognized in sections 1 and 2 of this article; section 3 allowed for the creation of new counties.
This page provides a basic overview of the responsibilities of county commissioners in Washington State, along with practical guidance and tips on doing an effective job.
The Washington State Legislature consists of the House of Representatives and State Senate. The judiciary is composed of the Washington Supreme Court and lower courts. There is also local government, consisting of counties, municipalities and special districts.
Created in 1906, the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) is a voluntary, non-profit association serving all of Washington’s 39 counties. WSAC members include elected county commissioners, council members and executives from all of Washington’s 39 counties.
Every Washington State resident lives in one of Washington's 39 Counties. Article XI, §s 4 and 5 of the state constitution authorize the legislature to create a uniform system of government for counties. State law relating to counties is generally collected in Title 36 RCW.
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