The Kaliningrad region is equal legal subject of the Russian Federation, and it independently establishes its own system regional government bodies in its territory according to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and to the general principles of organisation of representative and executive public authorities, stipulated by the federal legislation.

According to the Statute (Basic Law) of Kaliningrad region, the system of public authorities in the region is composed of:
– the legislative (representative) public authority – the Regional Duma;
– the superior official – the Head of the Regional Government (the Governor);
– the superior executive public authority – the Government of the region, headed by the Governor.

The administrative centre of the region is the city of Kaliningrad. Beside it, there are 7 other cities of regional subordination (including 3 urban areas) and 13 districts. All in all, there are 22 towns and 5 urban-type settlements in the Kaliningrad region.

The special location of the Kaliningrad region has necessitated establishment in 2001 of a post of Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the North-Western Federal Area, whose duties include direct control over the situation and coordination of activities of federal public bodies in the region.