The word Talagante in Quechua comes from talacanta, meaning "Lazo de Hechicero", which was the proper name of the curaca, or ruler, who dominated this central valley on behalf of the Inca Empire during the arrival of the Spaniards.

Talagante can be found in the Chilean Central Valley at an elevation of 313 m (1,027 ft), 35 kilometres (22 mi) to the southwest of the national capital of Santiago.

[3] As a commune, Talagante is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years.

The 2012-2016 alcalde is Raúl Leiva Carvajal (IND),[1][2] and his council members are:[6] Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Talagante is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Denise Pascal (PS) and Gonzalo Uriarte (UDI) as part of the 31st electoral district, (together with Peñaflor, El Monte, Isla de Maipo, Melipilla, María Pinto, Curacaví, Alhué, San Pedro and Padre Hurtado).

The commune is represented in the Senate by Guido Girardi Lavín (PPD) and Jovino Novoa Vásquez (UDI) as part of the 7th senatorial constituency (Santiago-West).