Editing Joplin, Missouri (section)

==Government==
{{see also|List of mayors of Joplin, Missouri}}
Local government for the City of Joplin is provided through a nine-member city council, whose members are elected by voters citywide, with four seats being assigned to designated geographic zones of the city. City council members include the city's mayor, who is responsible for serving as meeting chair and official spokesman for the city council; and the mayor pro tem, who is responsible for performing the mayor's duties in absence. Both positions are elected every two years by their fellow council members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.joplinmo.org/141/City-Council|title=Joplin, MO - Official Website - City Council|website=www.joplinmo.org|access-date=2016-05-11}}</ref>

As of 2024, the city council members include<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Council {{!}} Joplin, MO - Official Website |url=https://www.joplinmo.org/141/City-Council |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.joplinmo.org}}</ref>:
* Keenan Cortez [General] (Mayor)
* Josh DeTar [General] (Mayor Pro Tem)
* Joshua Bard [General]
* Doris Carlin [General]
* Doug Lawson [General]
* Gary Shaw [Zone I]
* Charles Copple [Zone II]
* Ryan Jackson [Zone III]
* Mark Farnham [Zone IV]

Law enforcement services are provided by the [[Joplin Police Department]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joplinpolice.org/ |title=Joplin, MO – Official Website – Police Department |publisher=Joplinpolice.org |date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=2012-11-16}}</ref> On the state-level, the city is represented in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]] by Republican [[Lane Roberts]] of the 161st District, although a small portion of the city lies within the 162nd District represented by Republican [[Bob Bromley (Missouri politician)|Bob Bromley]] and in the [[Missouri Senate]] by Republican [[Jill Carter (politician)|Jill Carter]]. The city also lies within [[Missouri's 7th congressional district]], currently represented by [[Eric Burlison]] (R-Springfield).