The Metropolitan King County Council is the legislative branch of King County government. The Council adopts ordinances and motions, sets policy for the county, and holds approval authority for the county budget. The Council uses its committee structure to consider the legislation before it. Ordinances (laws) and motions (policy statements) are assigned to a Council committee for consideration, and then are recommended to the full Council for action.

Councilmembers also serve on many special boards and commissions that deal with issues that impact communities throughout King County and the Puget Sound region. These include the Sound Transit, the Growth Management Planning Council, and the Puget Sound Regional Council.

Nine Councilmembers are elected by district to four-year terms. Councilmember elections are held in odd-numbered years. Councilmembers are elected on a partisan basis, and must declare their political party unless they file as an Independent. An independent candidate must receive at least 20 percent of the vote in the Primary Election to qualify for the General Election ballot.

Each year, the Council reorganizes and elects a Chair and Vice Chair. In addition, the Council also decides yearly on its committee structure and makeup. Currently there are nine standing policy committees and three regional committees. Members of the Seattle City Council and representatives from suburban cities and local sewer districts are also members of the regional committees. The Council also has an Employment Committee that deals with employment of the staff of the legislative branch. In addition, all nine members of the Council meet as a Committee of the Whole to discuss broad-reaching legislation and issues.

The King County Executive is not a member of the Council, but is a separately elected official who serves as the executive officer who manages county government. The Executive submits legislation to the Council for consideration. Each year in October, Executive submits a proposed budget to the County Council for the operation of County government for the coming year. The Executive has veto power over ordinances passed by the Council.

The County Council meets weekly at 1:30 p.m. on Mondays (or on Tuesdays following a Monday holiday). Our meetings are held in the County Council chambers, Room 1001, on the tenth floor of the King County Courthouse located at 516 Third Avenue between James and Jefferson in downtown Seattle.