Local and Regional Governments in Europe
CEMR_structures_and_competences_2016_EN
CEMR_structures_and_competences_2016_EN
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Municipalities<br />
The municipal assembly (Assembleia<br />
Municipal) is composed of the<br />
presidents of the parishes located<br />
with<strong>in</strong> each municipality's jurisdiction<br />
<strong>and</strong> of members elected by direct<br />
universal suffrage for a four-year term.<br />
It is the municipality's deliberative<br />
body <strong>and</strong> monitors the activities of<br />
the executive council.<br />
The executive council (Câmara<br />
Municipal) is the municipality's<br />
executive branch <strong>and</strong> is composed of<br />
members elected by direct universal<br />
suffrage for a four-year period.<br />
Its members can <strong>in</strong>tervene <strong>in</strong> the<br />
municipal assembly however they<br />
cannot vote. The executive council<br />
organises <strong>and</strong> implements municipal<br />
services, more specifically <strong>in</strong> the fields<br />
of municipal plann<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> public<br />
works.<br />
The mayor (Presidente da Câmara<br />
Municipal) is elected for a four-year<br />
m<strong>and</strong>ate <strong>and</strong> is selected as the<br />
electoral c<strong>and</strong>idate as a result of<br />
hav<strong>in</strong>g been head of the list with the<br />
most votes dur<strong>in</strong>g the election of the<br />
executive council. He/she presides<br />
over the work of executive council.<br />
Alongside the municipalities <strong>and</strong><br />
parishes, Portuguese local selfgovernment<br />
units <strong>in</strong>clude other<br />
types of authorities, such as <strong>in</strong>termunicipal<br />
communities, associations<br />
of municipalities, big metropolitan<br />
areas <strong>and</strong> urban communities.<br />
The role of these authorities is<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>cipally aimed at coord<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the municipal <strong>in</strong>vestments of <strong>in</strong>termunicipal<br />
<strong>in</strong>terests. Their areas of<br />
competence also <strong>in</strong>clude strategic,<br />
economic, social <strong>and</strong> territorial<br />
management.<br />
Competences<br />
• Education<br />
• Energy<br />
• Ma<strong>in</strong>tenance of roads <strong>and</strong> parks<br />
• Social facilities for children,<br />
youth <strong>and</strong> seniors<br />
• Culture <strong>and</strong> sports<br />
• Environment<br />
• Hous<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> urban plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />
• Health Care (PHC)<br />
• Procurement Contracts<br />
• Civil eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
• Community protection (municipal<br />
fire departments for example)<br />
• Municipal police<br />
• Town Tw<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />
• <strong>Local</strong> residence permits<br />
• Infrastructure (water, waste, etc.)<br />
<strong>Regional</strong> level 2 autonomous regions (Açores <strong>and</strong> Madeira)<br />
The legislative assembly (Assembleia<br />
Legislativa) is composed of members<br />
elected by direct universal suffrage.<br />
The president (President do Governo<br />
<strong>Regional</strong>) co-presides over the<br />
regional government for a period of<br />
four years.<br />
CEMR <strong>in</strong> Portugal - National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (www.anmp.pt)<br />
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