Created as Delaware Township in 1844, the community was first governed by a Township Committee. In a special election on May 19, 1951, the citizens adopted the Commission form of government consisting of a three-member Board of Commissioners.

In 1962, the Township's population passed the 30,000 mark and two additional Commissioners were elected. Following a study made by a Citizen's Advisory Committee, a special election was held in 1962. The Township voted to change its form of government to the Council-Manager Plan A. Five Council members were elected at-large in a May election to serve concurrent four-year terms. The Council members elected one of their own as Mayor, but a Township Manager served as the Chief Administrator of the Township.

By 1975, after a Charter Study Commission report, Cherry Hill was ready for another change. After a ballot referendum, the citizens adopted the Council-Manager Plan B form of government. Two features of the government were changed: council members were to be elected every two years for overlapping terms of four years and the number of Council members would increase from five to seven.

After a 1981 referendum, the government changed yet again, this time to a Mayor-Council Plan B form of government. A full-time mayor was established to be elected directly by the people every four years, and seven Council members were elected for staggered four-year terms.

The most recent change, resulting from a ballot referendum in November of 1986, changed the elections from a non-partisan May election to a partisan election in November.

Current Government Officers
Mayor Bernie Platt

Council President Dave Fleisher
Council Vice President Sara Lipsett
Councilman N. John Amato
Councilman Dennis Garbowski
Councilman Jim Bannar
Councilwoman Susan Shin Angulo
Councilwoman Jacquelene Silver