The City of Choctaw is a "Home Rule" city. Choctaw voters adopted its initial "Charter" in 1973. In April of 1999, Choctaw residents voted to amend the Charter and approved the proposition allowing the city manager to reside within the city limits and/or the Choctaw-Nicoma Park school district.

The municipal government operates under a "council-manager" form of government as provided by the city charter. Pursuant to its provisions and subject only to the limitations imposed by the Oklahoma Constitution and by our charter, all powers of the city are vested in an elective council, which enacts local legislation, adopts budgets, determines policies, and appoints the city manager, city attorney, municipal judge and all board, commissions and trusts. The city manager executes the laws and administers the government of the city.