Jena is an independent city in Thuringia with 110.000 inhabitants. The basic policies of the city administrations are decided by the city council. It makes all decisions unless it transferred the task to a committee or the lord mayor or the mayor's responsibility has been set in law. The council also elects three heads of departments that support the mayor in his role as head of the city administration. He heads the first administrative departments (Central Services). The other three departments are finances & security, city planning & environment and family, education & welfare.
Jena is divided into 30 districts whose inhabitants elect the district council and the district mayor.