Municipality 19038 225796331 2008-07-15T13:10:57Z AlexWangombe 6759288 {{otheruses|Municipal (disambiguation)}} A '''municipality''' is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a [[city]], [[town]], or [[village]], or a small grouping of them. A municipality is typically governed by a [[mayor]] and a [[city council]] or [[municipal council]]. Municipalities are not necessarily the same as [[township]]s. A municipality is a general-purpose district, as opposed to a [[special-purpose district]]. In most [[country|countries]], a municipality is the smallest administrative subdivision to have its own [[democracy|democratically]] [[election|elected]] [[republic|representative]] leadership. In some countries, municipalities are referred to as "communes" (for example, French ''commune'', Italian ''comune'' or Swedish ''kommun''). The term derives from the [[medieval commune]]. The largest municipalities can be found in Canada and Greenland. Most likely the largest municipality is [[Qaanaaq|Avernasuaq]] in Greenland, which is larger than the whole United Kingdom. In some countries, especially in the [[Middle East]], the term "municipality" is also used to refer to the municipal administrative building known elsewhere as the [[town hall]] or [[city hall]]. == Municipalities as lower-level entities == *In [[Algeria]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Algeria|commune]]'') is part of a [[daïra]], which is part of a [[Wilayas of Algeria|wilaya]]; there are [[List of communes in Algeria|1,541 communes in Algeria]]. *In [[Argentina]], a municipality ([[municipalidad]]) is a city, town, or township, which is part of a province. The provinces organize the municipalities in their territories according to their own [[municipio|municipal regime]]. *In [[Australia]], municipalities are subdivisions of a [[States and territories of Australia|state or territory]]. (See [[Local Government Areas in Australia]]). *In [[Austria]], a municipality (''Gemeinde'') is part of a [[district#Austria|district]] (''Bezirk''), which is in turn part of a [[States of Austria|state]] (''Bundesland''). *In [[Belgium]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities in Belgium|gemeente/commune]]'') is either part of a province (''[[Provinces of regions in Belgium|provincie/province]]'') or of the [[Brussels-Capital Region]] *In [[Bolivia]], a municipality (''municipio'') is part of a [[province]], which is part of a [[Department (country subdivision)|departamento]]. *In [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], a municipality (''općina'' or ''opština'') is ** part of a canton (''[[Cantons of Bosnia and Herzegovina|kanton]]'') ** a subdivision (grouped in [[Regions of Republika Srpska|regions]]) *In [[Brazil]], a municipality (''município'') is part of a state (''[[States of Brazil|estado]]'') and the it's smallest political-administrative division. *In [[Canada]], a municipality is a city, town, township, county, or [[regional municipality]] which has been incorporated by [[statute]] by the legislatures of the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|provinces and territories]]. It is also a specific designation for certain municipalities in [[Quebec]], [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Ontario]]. Certain areas of [[Saskatchewan]] and [[Manitoba]] are designated as [[Rural municipality|rural municipalities]], while equivalent areas in [[Alberta]] are designated as [[municipal district]]s and some in [[British Columbia]] are designated as '''district municipalities'''. *In [[Chile]], a municipality (''municipalidad'') is a legal entity which administers one or more [[comuna|commune]]s (''comuna'') which are the third-level division of the country. The first division are [[Regions of Chile|regions]] which a next divided into [[Provinces of Chile|provinces]] (''provincia''). These provinces are next divided into ''comunas'' which are assigned to a municipality for administration. In most cases the municipality and the comuna have the same name, but the constitution permits a single municipality to be responsible for more than one commune. *In [[Colombia]], a municipality (''municipio'') is part of a [[Departments of Colombia|department]] (''departamento''). It also subdivided into [[Corregimiento]]s and [[Vereda]]s. *In [[Croatia]], a municipality (''[[općina]]'') is part of a county (''[[Counties of Croatia|županija]]'') *In the [[Czech Republic]], a municipality (''obec'') is part of a [[kraj]] (''kraj'') *In [[Denmark]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Denmark|kommune]]'') is part of a [[Regions of Denmark|region]]. Counties (''[[Counties of Denmark|amter]]'') were abandoned in Denmark on January 1, 2007. *In the [[Dominican Republic]] a municipality (''[[municipio]]'') is a subdivision of a [[Provinces of the Dominican Republic|province]] (see [[municipalities of the Dominican Republic]]). *In [[Estonia]], a municipality (''[[municipalities of Estonia|omavalitsus]]'') is the smallest division. *In [[Finland]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Finland|kunta / kommun]]'') co-operates with municipalities nearby in a sub-region (''seutukunta / region'') and region (''maakunta / landskap''); a region belongs to a province (''[[Provinces of Finland|lääni / län]]'') of the state. A municipality can freely call itself a "city" (''kaupunki / stad''). *In [[France]], a municipality (''[[Commune in France|commune]]'') is part of a department (''[[département in France|département]]'') which is part of a region (''[[région]]'') *In [[Germany]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities in Germany|Gemeinde]]'') is part of a district (''[[List of German districts|Kreis]]''). Larger entities of the same level are called towns (''Stadt''). In less populated regions, municipalities are often put together into collective municipalities (''[[Municipalities in Germany|Verbandsgemeinde]]'') *In [[Greece]], a municipality is either demoi or koinotetes (demoi with little population) which is then part of a [[prefecture]] (''[[nomos]]'') and then a larger region known as a [[peripheries|periphery]]. Municipalities are third-level administrative divisions and their heads (mayors in demoi, presidents in koinotetes) are appointed via popular vote held every four years. *In [[Haiti]], a municipality (''commune'') is part of an [[arrondissement]], which is part of a department (''[[département]]''). *In [[Hungary]], a municipality (''települési önkormányzat'') is part of a county (''megye''). *In [[India]], a municipality is often referred to town. It is neither village nor big city. Usually, a municipality would have 100,000 or more people, but if it exceeds one million, it becomes a [[corporation]]. *In [[Italy]], a ''[[comune]]'' is part of a province (''[[Provinces of Italy|provincia]]'') which is part of a region (''[[Regions of Italy|regione]]''). The term "municipality" is reserved for subdivisions of larger ''comuni'' (in particular, the comune of [[Rome]]). *In [[Japan]], a municipality is the sphere of government within the prefectures, the sub-division of the state. *In [[Kenya]], a municipality is one of four types of local authorities. Nearly 50 major towns are given the municipality status. *In [[Latvia]], a [[rural]] municipality (''sing.:novads'', ''plur.:novadi'') is part of a district (''sing.:rajons'', ''plur.:rajoni''). A rural municipality normally consists of [[Amalgamation (politics)|amalgated]] [[Civil parish|parishe]]s (''sing.:pagasts'', ''plur.:pagasti''). An urban municipality is called ''rajons''. * In [[Lebanon]], a municipality is part of a [[Districts of Lebanon|district]] ([[Arabic]]: ''Qadaa'') which is part of a [[Governorate]] (Region or Province, [[Arabic]]: ''Mouhafazah''). *In [[Lithuania]], a municipality (''savivaldybė'') is a part of a district (''[[apskritis]]'') and is subdivided into elderates (''[[seniūnija]]''). *In [[Luxembourg]], [[communes of Luxembourg|communes]] are the lowest divisions. *In [[Mexico]], a municipality (''[[municipio (Mexico)|municipio]]'') is a subdivision of a state ([[States of Mexico|estado]]) and a borough (''[[delegación]]'') is a subdivision of the [[Federal District (Mexico)|Federal District]] (see [[municipalities of Mexico]] and [[Boroughs of the Mexican Federal District]]). *In the [[Netherlands]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities in the Netherlands|gemeente]]'') is part of a province (''[[Provinces of the Netherlands|provincie]]''). *Every part of mainland [[New Zealand]] is part of either a "city" (mostly urban) or a "district" (mostly rural). <!-- each having an elected council, and many having smaller "community board" divisions. Populations range from 5,000 to 400,000. On top of that structure are "regions", whose elected councils are concerned with broad subjects such as air and water purity and regional public transport. Most regions encompass 3-10 districts and/or cities.--> The term "municipality" has become rare in New Zealand since about 1979 and has no legal status. *In [[Nicaragua]], a municipality (''municipio'') is subdivision of a department (''departamento'') or of one of the two [[Autonomous Region]]s, [[Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte]] and [[Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur]]. *In [[Norway]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Norway|kommune]]'') is part of a county (''[[Counties of Norway|fylke]]''). There are 431 municipalities in Norway (2006). *In the [[Palestinian National Authority]], [[Municipality (Palestinian Authority)|municipalities]] are localities with populations over 4,000 and have 13-15 council members. There are 105 municipalities in the PNA. *In [[Peru]], a municipality (''municipio'') is another term for [[Districts of Peru|district]] (''distrito'') and is the lower-level administrative subdivision. It is part of a [[Provinces of Peru|province]] (''provincia''), which is part of a [[Departments of Peru|department]] (''departamento''). As of 2002 a department is now called a region (región). *In the [[Philippines]], a municipality (''[[municipalities of the Philippines|bayan]]'') is a town with a popularly elected administration including a mayor, and is part of a province (''[[Provinces of the Philippines|lalawigan]]'') — except for the independent municipality of [[Pateros, Metro Manila]] in the [[Metro Manila|National Capital Region]] — and is composed of [[barangay]]s. *In [[Poland]], a municipality (''[[gmina]]'') is a part of a county (''[[powiat]]''). *In [[Portugal]], a municipality (''[[município]]'') is a directly elected local area authority generally consisting of a main city and surrounding villages, with wide-ranging local administration powers. It is also a subdivision of a district for central government purposes(''[[Districts of Portugal|distritos]]''). *In [[Puerto Rico]], a [[Municipalities of Puerto Rico|municipality]] (''municipio'') is a town or city with a popularly elected administration, including a mayor. *In [[Romania]], a municipality (''[[Municipality in Romania|municipiu]]'') is a town or a city ranked by law at this level. A [[communes of Romania|commune]] is the lowest subdivision of a [[judeţ]]. *In [[Russia]], several types of municipalities ("municipal formations") exist; see [[subdivisions of Russia#Municipal divisions|subdivisions of Russia]] *In [[Serbia]], a municipality (''[[opština]]'') is part of a county (''[[okrug]]'') *In [[Slovakia]], a municipality (''[[obec]]'') is part of a [[okres|district]] (''okres''). There are [[List of villages and municipalities in Slovakia|2 891]] municipalities in the state. *In [[South Africa]], [[District municipality (South Africa)|district municipalities]] and [[Metropolitan municipality (South Africa)|metropolitan municipalities]] are subdivisions of the [[Provinces of South Africa|provinces]], and [[Local municipality (South Africa)|local municipalities]] are subdivisions of district municipalities. *In [[Sweden]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Sweden|kommun]]'') is part of a county (''[[Counties of Sweden|län]]''). *In [[Switzerland]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities in Switzerland|commune/Gemeinde/comune]]'') is part of a canton (''[[Cantons of Switzerland|canton/Kanton/cantone]]'') and defined by cantonal law. *In the [[United Arab Emirates]], a municipality is part of an [[emirate]], and is defined by the law of the specific emirates. *In the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]], a municipality is governed by official political borders, such as that of the [[Greater Belfast|Greater Belfast area]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. As is the same for the [[Greater London|Greater London area]] and not just the [[City of London]]. The term ''municipality'' and the word ''municipal'' in general is not commonly heard. ''Greater x area'' or ''[[county]]'' would be the most common in usage. *In the [[United States]], the entities that have status as a municipality vary from [[U.S. state|state]] to state. Cities, towns, [[borough]]s, or villages are common terms for municipalities. [[Township (United States)|Townships]], counties, and [[parish]]es are not generally considered to be municipalities, although there are exceptions. In some states, towns have a non-municipal status similar to townships. Likewise, some townships have full municipal status. *In [[Venezuela]], a municipality (''[[municipio]]'') is part of a state, as well as a subdivision of the [[Venezuelan Capital District|Capital District]] (''[[Subdivisions of Venezuela|estado]]''). == First-level entities and other forms of municipalities == *In the [[People's Republic of China]], a [[direct-controlled municipality]] (直辖市 in [[pinyin]]: zhíxiáshì) is a [[city]] with equal status to a [[Province of China|province]]: [[Beijing Municipality|Beijing]], [[Tianjin Municipality|Tianjin]], [[Shanghai Municipality|Shanghai]], and [[Chongqing Municipality|Chongqing]] (see [[Municipality of China]]) *In the [[Republic of China]] on [[Taiwan]], a municipality (直轄市 in [[Wade-Giles]]: [[Political divisions of Taiwan|chi-hsia-shih]]) is a city with equal status to a province: [[Taipei]] and [[Kaohsiung]]. (see [[Municipality of China]]) *In [[Jersey]], a municipality refers to the honorary officials elected to run each of the 12 [[Parishes of Jersey|Parishes]] into which it is subdivided. This is the highest level of regional government in this jurisdiction. * In [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], 84 municipalities ([[Municipalities of the Republic of Macedonia|''opštini'']]; singular: ''opština'') were established in 2004, reduced from 123 created in 1996. *In [[Portugal]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Portugal|município]]''/''[[Concelhos of Portugal|concelho]]'') is the primary [[local administrative unit]]. Although it is a part of a district (''[[Districts of Portugal|distrito]]'') for certain national administrative purposes, the municipality is not subordinate to the district and decentralization is doing away with the districts. A municipality contains one or more ''[[freguesia]]s''. *In [[Puerto Rico]], there are no first order administrative divisions, and the municipalities (''[[Municipalities of Puerto Rico|municipio]]'') serves as second-order, but first level, administrative divisions. *In [[Montenegro]], a municipality (''[[opština]]'') is the topmost regional division *[[Municipalities of Libya]], some very large. *In [[Slovenia]], a municipality (''[[Municipalities of Slovenia|občina]]'') is the primary [[local administrative unit]]. There are 210 of them, 11 of which have a special "Urban" status with additional autonomy. *In [[Spain]], a municipality (''[[municipio]]'') is the primary [[local administrative unit]]. It is a part of a province (''[[Provinces of Spain|provincia]]'') for all national administrative purposes. In the [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] region, the municipalities are called [[concello]]s, and in the [[Principality of Asturias]] region, a municipality is called [[conceyu]]. In these two regions a municipality contains one or more ''[[parroquia]]s''. == See also == {{Wiktionary}} *[[:Category:Lists of municipalities]] (with lists for countries) *[[Council of European Municipalities and Regions]] *[[Administrative division]] *[[Council-manager government]] *[[Mayor]] *[[Mayor-council government]] *[[Muni]] *[[Municipal government]] *[[Municipal services]] *[[Political science]] *[[Special-purpose district]] *[http://www.europeanpublicfinance.com Large list of European Municipalities] {{Types of administrative country subdivision}} [[Category:Administrative divisions]] [[af:Gemeentes]] [[als:Politische Gemeinde]] [[ar:بلدية]] [[ast:Municipiu]] [[bar:Gemeinde]] [[bs:Općina]] [[bg:Община (България)]] [[ca:Municipi]] [[cs:Obec]] [[co:Cumuna]] [[da:Kommune]] [[de:Gemeinde]] [[et:Vald]] [[el:Δήμος]] [[es:Municipio]] [[eo:Municipo]] [[eu:Udalerri]] [[fr:Municipalité]] [[fy:Gemeente]] [[gl:Concello]] [[hr:Općina]] [[id:Kotamadya]] [[is:Sveitarfélag]] [[it:Comune]] [[he:רשות מקומית]] [[la:Commune]] [[lv:Pašvaldība]] [[lt:Savivaldybė]] [[lmo:Comü]] [[hu:Község]] [[mk:Општина]] [[ms:Kotamadya]] [[nl:Gemeente (bestuur)]] [[ja:基礎自治体]] [[no:Kommune]] [[nn:Kommune]] [[nds:Gemeen]] [[pl:Gmina (ujednoznacznienie)]] [[pt:Município]] [[ro:Municipiile României]] [[ru:Муниципалитет]] [[sq:Komuna]] [[sk:Obec (slovenská správna jednotka)]] [[sl:Občina]] [[fi:Kunta]] [[sv:Kommun]] [[te:పురపాలక సంఘము]] [[tet:Konsellu]] [[tr:Belediye]] [[uk:Муніципалітет]] [[fiu-vro:Vald]] [[vls:Gemêente]] [[zh:基层政权]]