The Governance Committee is responsible for legal and political issues relating to the effective development of good governance and democracy at local and regional levels. Its work focuses on promoting the implementation and development of the Council of Europe's legal instruments and recommendations in the field of local and regional democracy. It also considers questions related to governance and the functioning of local and regional authorities, such as citizen participation at local and regional level, public finance, cross-border and interregional co-operation, and e-democracy.

In the framework of its mandate, the Governance Committee prepares reports, including a resolution and/or recommendation for adoption by the Congress. In accordance with the priorities set by the Congress, it may also propose activities to the Bureau for advancing local and regional democracy, and organise conferences, hearings and other events on matters linked to its work programme. 

In the framework of its activities, the Committee works closely with the relevant Council of Europe structures and bodies, in particular with the Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development and the relevant subsidiary bodies of the Committee of Ministers, such as the European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) and its subcommittees.