 Mahwah is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government (Plan B), implemented by direct petition as of July 1, 1984.The township is one of 71 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form of government.The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a seven-member Township Council, with all members elected at-large to four-year terms of office in non-partisan elections held as part of the November general election in even years, with either three seats (and the mayoral seat) or four seats up for vote.