Zils is located in Sines and is one of the 308 Portuguese municipalities. The Mayor of Sines is Nuno Mascarenhas (since 2013). Sines municipality integrates CIMAL - Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alentejo Litoral.

Portuguese municipalities operate as public authority over a large number of sectorsnamely education, environmental protection, local and regional development, competitiveness, innovation and employment. The municipalities leadership is ensured with elected bodies (elected by direct universal suffrage)

The Republic of Portugal is a Parliamentary democracy, based on the respect and the effective guarantees for fundamental rights and freedoms and the separation and interdependence of powers. Under the Portuguese Constitution, sovereign powers are vested in the President of the Republic, the Assembly of the Republic, the Government and the Courts. The President of the Republic is the Head of State, elected by direct universal suffrage for a five year term, with a maximum of two terms. The current President of the Republic is Aníbal Cavaco Silva who was re-elected on 23rd January 2011.

Legislative power lies with the Parliament (Assembly of the Republic) represented by 230 members which are elected by popular vote to serve a four year term. Executive power lies with the Government, headed by the Prime Minister, the Ministers and the Secretaries of State. Pedro Passos Coelho, Portugal’s Prime Minister and the leader of the Social Democratic Party won the legislative elections in June 2011.

The Portuguese judicial system consists of several categories of Court, independent of each other, with their own structure and rules. Two of these categories are composed only by one Court (the Constitutional Court and the Court of Auditors). The Judicial, Administrative and Fiscal Courts are numerous, hierarchically structured and respond to a Supreme Court. In addition, there are Maritime Courts, Courts of Arbitration and Justices of the Peace.

Portugal became a member of the European Union in 1985, and it was a founder member of the Euro-zone. Under Portuguese presidencies remarkable progress where made: revision of European policies, the adoption of the Lisbon Strategy, and the approval of the Treaty of Lisbon. It provides the Union the legal framework and tools currently in force

The Portuguese judicial system consists of several categories of Court, independent of each other with their own structure and rules. Two of these categories are composed by one Court (the Constitutional Court and the Court of Auditors). The Judicial, Administrative and Fiscal Courts are numerous, hierarchically structured and respond to a Supreme Court. In addition, there Courts, Courts of Arbitration and Justices of Peace.