The Manila City Council or the city's legislature is composed of 38 councilors, with 36 councilors elected from Manila's six councilor districts and two councilors elected from the ranks of barangay (neighborhood) chairmen and the Sangguniang Kabataan. The presiding officer of the council is the Vice Mayor, who is elected citywide.

The highly urbanized city of Manila is currently represented in the House of Representatives of the Philippines by its six congressional districts. Every three years, each district elects one representative who will sit on their behalf in Congress. In addition, each district is allotted six seats in the Manila City Council, with councilors being elected every three years.