municipios

Municipio, or municipality, is a political and administrative division that typically has its own local government and a defined geographic area within a country. The exact status, powers, and boundaries of a municipio vary by national law, but in many places it represents the lowest tier of territorial government responsible for local affairs. The term is widely used in Spanish-speaking countries and in several others with different constitutional arrangements.

Common features include an elected executive and a legislative body, such as a mayor or alcalde and a municipal council (ayuntamiento), who administer local services and regulations. Responsibilities often cover urban planning and zoning, road maintenance, water supply and sanitation, waste management, public health, cultural and social services, and local taxation. The size and scope of a municipio can range from a small rural district to a large city, influencing its administrative capacity.

There are diverse models across jurisdictions. In Spain, municipios are the basic local entities within provinces and autonomous communities, with competences defined by regional law. In Mexico, a municipio includes a cabecera municipal (the main town) and surrounding communities and has a degree of fiscal and administrative autonomy. In other countries, such entities may be called concelhos, ayuntamientos, o municipios, reflecting local legal traditions while sharing the core function of governing at the local level.