In each of the 30 districts into which the state is divided, local deputies are elected to serve in the state Chamber of Deputies. In each municipality the presidente municipal is the highest-level authority. In most cases there are smaller localities within the municipality called agencias or congregaciones; each is represented by an agente municipal. Each district has a state government office (delegación del gobierno estatal) represented by the delegado and his staff.

In the municipalities, especially in indigenous rural areas, traditional practices of governance persist that are based on democracy, participation of the population in political and civic posts (road-building committee, electrification committee, parents' committee, etc.), and collective work (el tequio) to build community works projects.

The state hosts offices (delegaciones and subdelegaciones) of the secretariats, or ministries, and other federal government offices (SEDESOL, SARH, SHCP, INI, DIF, etc.) as well as the secretariats of the Oaxaca state government (for tourism, agriculture and forestry, etc.). Coordination among the various federal and state offices takes place through the State Development Planning Committee (COPLADE), which brings together representatives of both federal and state government offices.