Municipal and autonomous government

 What is a city council?

A city council is made up of the mayor and the councillors. The municipal population elects councillors in municipal elections held every four years.

The councillors elect the mayor. Together they govern the municipality and organise public services, like rubbish collection, local police and municipal transport. Important issues that affect the municipality are discussed in city council meetings.

Votos

Mapa

What is the Statute of Autonomy?

The Statute of Autonomy is the most important law in an autonomous community, together with the Constitution. It establishes the specific laws for governing each autonomous community, related to:

• The rights and responsibilities of its citizens.

• Its government institutions.

• Its name and territory.

• Its capital city and symbols (anthem, flag and coat of arms).

What are the three government institutions?

The autonomous parliament represents the citizens in an autonomous community. Spanish citizens living in the autonomous community elect the members of the parliament every four years. It is responsible for debating and passing autonomous laws, approving the budget for the community and supervising the government of the autonomous community.

The government council is made up of the president of the autonomous community and the councillors who administer the different departments. These departments include education, transport, health, housing and the environment.

The president is chosen by the autonomous parliament and named by the monarch. The councillors are chosen by the president.

The High Court of Justice is the highest judicial power in a community. Only the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court are higher judicial bodies.

Each autonomous community has a government delegate, responsible for coordinating with central Government.

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