The Illinois General Assembly organized the city under the provisions of "an Act to Incorporate the City of Galesburg" on February 14, 1857. The city is a home rule municipality and has operated under the Council-Manager form of government since 1956. The City Council is comprised of seven Council members and a Mayor. The Council members are elected, for four-year staggered terms, from defined wards. All city residents elect the Mayor for a four-year term. The City of Galesburg was chartered for the purpose of providing its residents with the following services: police protection, fire protection, water service, garbage collection, recycling collection, landscape waste collection, parks, campground, airport, golf course, indoor swimming pool, water-park, recreational programs, Public Library, community center, cemeteries and the care of streets and sidewalks. Since 1873, the city of Galesburg has been the county seat of Knox County.