Counties are governed by an elected County Council, but a majority delegate day-to-day administration to a professional County Administrator hired by and reporting to the council — a real executive role, distinct from the council itself (four recognized forms exist statewide: council, council-supervisor, council-administrator, and council-manager, with council-administrator the most common). A resident would attend County Council public meetings for policy matters, and typically route a records request to the Clerk to Council or the relevant department.

Most states combine legislative and executive power in a single small elected commission; South Carolina's dominant form instead splits the roles — an elected council sets policy while a professionally appointed administrator runs daily operations.