The highest decision-making organ in Helsinki is the City Council. The Council makes the most important financial decisions as well as those related to City administration. The Council further vests their powers in other organs such as the City Board, various committees and boards and individual officials. The Council elects the members of the City organs and makes the appointments to the most important offices.

The Social Services Committee and the Social Services Department are responsible for social services in Helsinki according to objectives approved by the City Council and the City Board. The Committee is a political body of officials elected by the City Council for a term of four years.

The Sections elected by the City Council are Section for Families with children, First and Second Adult Services Section, Elderly Section, Child Day Care Section and Swedish Section. The sections deal with appeals on official decisions about individual care and decide on matters of involuntary care. The Child Day Care Section and the Swedish Section also handle matters concerning pre-school teaching.