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Concelho () is the Portuguese-language term for
After the civil parish (), the Portuguese ''concelho'' is the most stable territorial subdivision within the country, with over 900 years of history. Founded in the royal charters attributed to parcels and territorial enclaves, in order to establish a presence by the Crown, rather than personal fiefdoms of the nobility and aristocracy. This municipal institution changed throughout history: many were abolished and reconstituted based on the political necessity; first they were subject to the specifics of each charter (which varied based on conditions and circumstances), and then based on national laws established during the Liberal era.
Today, the municipalities are governed by the ''municípios'', constituted by the ''Câmara Municipal'' (''Municipal Chamber''), its executive organ and by the ''Assembleia Municipal'' (''Municipal Assembly''), its deliberative body. The ''Câmara'' is the executive body that is charged with governing the territory and policies of the region. Owing to population, the municipal chamber can comprise a number of alderman (normally between 5 and 17) elected by lists, using direct, universal suffragan vote, based with or without political parties. The municipal assembly, sometimes ''parliament'', is responsible principally for auditing the activities of the executive branch. Its members are elected by population and proportionally by civil parishes, using the same schema as the executive (by universal direct suffrage with or without political parties), but also represented by the presidents of the ''juntas de freguesia'' (''civil parish council presidents'').
Though a unitary state, the Portuguese model governance has undergone periods of centralized and decentralized tendencies:
:''"One of the interesting and innovative aspects of the 1976 Constitution, occurs in the consideration of decentralized democracy, particularly in the ambient of territorial decentralization...The Portuguese State continues to be unitary (Article 6, Paragraph 1), with the ability to be also decentralized...or basically, capable of distribute functions and powers to community authorities, other entities and centres of existing interest."''
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
, referring to the territorial subdivision in local government
Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state.
Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...
. In comparison, the word ''município'' () refers to the organs of State. This differentiation is still in use in Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...
and some of its former overseas provinces, but is no longer in use in Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
following the abolition of these organs, in favour of the French prefecture system. It is similar to borough
A borough is an administrative division in various English language, English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
History
...
and council
A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...
.
History
After the civil parish (), the Portuguese ''concelho'' is the most stable territorial subdivision within the country, with over 900 years of history. Founded in the royal charters attributed to parcels and territorial enclaves, in order to establish a presence by the Crown, rather than personal fiefdoms of the nobility and aristocracy. This municipal institution changed throughout history: many were abolished and reconstituted based on the political necessity; first they were subject to the specifics of each charter (which varied based on conditions and circumstances), and then based on national laws established during the Liberal era.
Today, the municipalities are governed by the ''municípios'', constituted by the ''Câmara Municipal'' (''Municipal Chamber''), its executive organ and by the ''Assembleia Municipal'' (''Municipal Assembly''), its deliberative body. The ''Câmara'' is the executive body that is charged with governing the territory and policies of the region. Owing to population, the municipal chamber can comprise a number of alderman (normally between 5 and 17) elected by lists, using direct, universal suffragan vote, based with or without political parties. The municipal assembly, sometimes ''parliament'', is responsible principally for auditing the activities of the executive branch. Its members are elected by population and proportionally by civil parishes, using the same schema as the executive (by universal direct suffrage with or without political parties), but also represented by the presidents of the ''juntas de freguesia'' (''civil parish council presidents'').
Though a unitary state, the Portuguese model governance has undergone periods of centralized and decentralized tendencies:
:''"One of the interesting and innovative aspects of the 1976 Constitution, occurs in the consideration of decentralized democracy, particularly in the ambient of territorial decentralization...The Portuguese State continues to be unitary (Article 6, Paragraph 1), with the ability to be also decentralized...or basically, capable of distribute functions and powers to community authorities, other entities and centres of existing interest."''
See also
* Administrative divisions of Cape Verde * Municipalities and parishes of Macau *Municipalities of Portugal
The municipality ( or ) is the second-level Administrative divisions of Portugal, administrative subdivision of Portugal, as defined by the Constitution of Portugal, 1976 Constitution.
As a general rule, each municipality is further subdivide ...
References
;Notes ;Sources * {{Portuguese terms for country subdivisions Types of administrative division Administrative divisions of Portugal Geography of Macau Politics of Macau Local government in Portugal pt:Município#Como divisão territorial