The early government came under criticism beginning as early as the 1820s for having many public offices filled by appointment and lack of delegation of authority to lower officials, requiring state level legislation for things like divorce approval.

In 1851 a new constitution was adopted by the state, remedying many of these problems and opening many more office to public election.

Significant government reforms were enacted again in 1971 when the state courts were reorganized and new powers were granted to the governor which had historically been a weak institution.

The government provides a wide range of services including law enforcement, infrastructure construction and maintenance, licensing and registration, tax collection, fire protection, business and utility regulation, utility services, and park and conservation maintenance efforts.

Elected to a four-year term, the governor is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of the state government.

The Governor is Eric Holcomb (R) since 2017, the Lieutenant Governor is Suzanne Crouch (R) since 2017, the Attorney General is Todd Rokita (R) since 2021, the Secretary of State is Diego Morales (R) since 2023, the Treasurer is Daniel Elliott (R) since 2023, and the Auditor is Elise Nieshalla (R) since 2023.

The Constitution of Indiana has several checks and balances built into its clauses to prevent any one branch of the government from becoming dominant.

The commissioners are responsible for carrying out the acts legislated by the council, and for managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.

Boards and commissions typically oversee management of water facilities, public roads, and new projects, among other tasks.

Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of the county government.

The council may also appoint a non-partisan town manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the municipal government.

Unlike some states, Indiana town council members must declare a political party affiliation when they file to run for office.

Council members serve four-year terms, and may be elected by geographic districts or at-large.

The trustee is responsible for providing fire protection and ambulance service to unincorporated areas, providing for poor relief and burial of the indigent, maintaining cemeteries and burial grounds, resolving fencing disputes between neighbors, investigating claims of livestock killed by dogs, controlling weeds, managing the township budget and financial records, and preparing an annual financial report.

Other public matters in which a trustee may sometimes be involved include zoning, parks, libraries, schools, shelters and community centers.

[7] The trustee is assisted by a three-member Township Board whose members are elected to four-year terms.

In January of each year, the trustee presents to the board an annual report showing the receipts, expenditures, investments and debts of the township.

[8] Indiana has long been considered to be a Republican stronghold and is rated R+11 on the Cook Partisan Voting Index.

However, outside of Indianapolis, the Chicago suburbs, and Bloomington; the state's Democrats tend to be somewhat more conservative than their counterparts in the rest of the country, especially on social issues.

[citation needed] Indiana's delegation to the United States House of Representatives is not completely Republican either.

This continued until 2006, when three Republican congressmen were defeated in Indiana; (Chris Chocola, John Hostettler and Mike Sodrel), giving the Democrats a majority of the delegation again.