concejo

Concejo is a term used in Spanish to denote a local level of government: a municipality or the council that governs it. It can refer to the territorial unit as well as to its governing body. In Spain the word is especially associated with Asturias, where concejo is the official designation for a municipality, a local jurisdiction that is comparable to other regions' municipios. The concejo is governed by an ayuntamiento, headed by al alcalde or alcaldesa, and its political leadership comprises concejales (councilors) elected by residents. The concejo has responsibilities typical of local administration, including urban planning, public services, budget oversight, and local regulations, within the framework set by national and autonomous-community law.

Historically, concejo referred to the local assembly or council in urban communities and could imply a degree of self-government in the medieval and early modern periods. In modern usage outside Asturias, the term is less common for the municipality itself, and municipio is usually used; however, concejo may appear in legal or historical contexts to denote the council or to refer to the municipality in certain regions or languages.

Concejo abierto is a form of local government based on direct participation by residents, optional in many municipalities and more typical in smaller towns; decisions are made in assemblies rather than by representatives alone.

In summary, concejo describes a local territorial unit and its governing body in certain Spanish-speaking contexts, with Asturias as a prominent contemporary example, and it also appears in historical and ceremonial contexts across the Spanish-speaking world.