The area of present-day Happō was part of ancient Dewa Province, dominated by the Satake clan during the Edo period, who ruled Kubota Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

Happō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members.

Happō, together with the city of Noshiro and the other municipalities of Yamamoto District contributes four members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly.

In terms of national politics, the town is part of Akita 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

East Japan Railway Company - Gonō Line Media related to Happō, Akita at Wikimedia Commons