County government serves as the middle layer of government between the federal and state governments and the municipalities. Passaic County is governed by a seven-member board of Chosen Freeholders.  Each Freeholder is elected at-large for a three-year term.

The Board is headed by a Freeholder-Director, who is selected for a one-year term at the Board's annual reorganization meeting at the first meeting of the year in January.

Under Passaic County's commission form of government, Freeholders discharge both executive and legislative responsibilities.

The title of Freeholder can be traced to the colonial period of American history. When New Jersey was a British crown colony, counties were governed by panels known as justices and Freeholders. Only a person, who held real property, was eligible for membership. The property-holding qualification was eventually abolished, however, the title of Freeholder remained.  Chosen Freeholders were elected, constituted the county's governing body.

The duties of a Freeholder include appropriating money for the Prosecutor's Office, the County Jail and Sheriff's Department, Passaic County Community College, Passaic County Technical Institute and Preakness Healthcare Center, Passaic County Youth Reception  and Rehabilitation Center and for the maintenance of county park, roads, and bridges.

Essentially, Passaic County operates through six standing committees of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. They are Administration & Finance; Health, Education and Community Service; Public Works and Buildings & Grounds; Law & Public Safety; Human Services and Planning and Economic Development.

The Freeholders also appoint individuals to departments, agencies, boards and commissions for the effective administration of county government.

The county administrator, chief administrative officer, supervises the day-to-day operation of county government and its departments.