Mangalore has a city area of 170 km² (65.64 sq mi).
Municipal limits begin at Surathkal in the north, Netravati River bridge in the south, the western coast and Vamanjoor in the east.
Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), which came into existence in 1980, is the municipal corporation in charge of the city's civic and infrastructural assets.

The MCC council consists of 60 elected representatives, called corporators; one from each of the city's 60 wards.
A corporator from the ruling majority party is selected as a Mayor.
MCC's headquarters are at Lalbagh.
Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) manages the planning, urban growth and expansion of the city.
The District Commissioner is the chairperson of MUDA.
The 44 projects listed as part of the Smart Cities Mission programme are managed by Mangalore Smart City Limited (MSCL).

Until the Delimitation commission's revision of the Lok Sabha and the legislative constituencies, Mangalore contributed two members to the Lok Sabha; one for the southern part of the city that fell under the Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency and another for the northern part of the city that fell under the Udupi Lok Sabha constituency.
After the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies in 2008, Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency was replaced with Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, resulting in Mangalore being represented by one Member of Parliament (MP).
Additionally, Mangalore sends three members to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Mangalore City South, Mangalore City North and Mangalore.
The Mangalore City Police Department is headed by a Commissioner of Police.
Mangalore is also the headquarters of the Western Range Police, which covers the western districts of Karnataka and is headed by an Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Mangalore has a city area of 170 km² (65.64 sq mi). Municipal limits begin at Surathkal in the north, Netravati River bridge in the south, the western coast and Vamanjoor in the east. Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), which came into existence in 1980, is the municipal corporation in charge of the city's civic and infrastructural assets.
The MCC council consists of 60 elected representatives, called corporators; one from each of the city's 60 wards. A corporator from the ruling majority party is selected as a Mayor. MCC's headquarters are at Lalbagh. Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) manages the planning, urban growth and expansion of the city. The District Commissioner is the chairperson of MUDA. The 44 projects listed as part of the Smart Cities Mission programme are managed by Mangalore Smart City Limited (MSCL).
Until the Delimitation commission's revision of the Lok Sabha and the legislative constituencies, Mangalore contributed two members to the Lok Sabha; one for the southern part of the city that fell under the Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency and another for the northern part of the city that fell under the Udupi Lok Sabha constituency. After the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies in 2008, Mangalore Lok Sabha constituency was replaced with Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, resulting in Mangalore being represented by one Member of Parliament (MP). Additionally, Mangalore sends three members to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Mangalore City South, Mangalore City North and Mangalore. The Mangalore City Police Department is headed by a Commissioner of Police. Mangalore is also the headquarters of the Western Range Police, which covers the western districts of Karnataka and is headed by an Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Mangalore