The City Council is the governing body of the City of Sealy. The City Council has the power to enact local legislation, adopt budgets, determine policy, and appoint the City Manager, who in turn executes the laws and administers the government of the City. This is known as the "Council-Manager" form of government.

The City Council is composed of the Mayor and six (6) Councilmembers. The Mayor and all Councilmembers are elected from the City at-large, and each Councilmember occupies a unique position, or "place," on the City Council. The Mayor and the Councilmembers are elected to serve for three-year terms. No person may be elected or appointed to serve for more than three (3) consecutive three-year terms, or portion thereof, as Mayor and/or Councilmember.

The Mayor is the official head of the City government and presides at all meetings of the City Council. The Mayor is entitled to vote upon all matters before the City Council unless prohibited by law, but has no power of veto. The Mayor sees that all ordinances, regulations, and resolutions of the City Council are faithfully obeyed and enforced. When authorized by the City Council, the Mayor signs all official documents, such as ordinances, resolutions, conveyances, agreements, contracts, and bonds. The Mayor appoints special committees which he or she deems advisable or as instructed by the City Council. The Mayor also performs any other duties consistent with the City Charter as may be imposed by City Council.

The Mayor Pro-Tem is a Councilmember who is elected annually by the City Council to act as Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor, and when so acting in this capacity, has the authority conferred upon the Mayor.

To qualify for office, the Mayor and each Councilmember must (a) be at least twenty-one (21) years of age upon commencement of the term filled at their election, (b) be a resident of the City, (c) have resided in the City for at least twelve (12) months immediately preceding election day, and (d) be a qualified voter.