Bettendorf has a Mayor-Council form of government. The Mayor and Council members serve four-year terms on a staggered basis. It is the responsibility of the Mayor and Council to choose a City Administrator. The City Administrator is a full-time, salaried employee who manages the administrative functions of city government, while the Council acts as the law-making, policy-forming body.
There are seven Council members: one for each of the five wards and two at-large members. The City Administrator appoints all Department Heads except the City Attorney which is appointed by the Mayor.
The City Council holds its regular meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. Committee of the Whole meets the Monday prior to the Council Meeting's Regular Meeting at 5 p.m. All meetings are held at Bettendorf City Hall (1609 State Street).