Portugal Unitary state

PORTUGAL  /  STRUCTURES
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Structures and competences

Local level :
3,092 parishes (freguesias) and 308 municipalities (municípios)

 

Parishes

The parish assembly (Assembleia de Freguesia) is the deliberative body of the parish and is composed of councillors elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year period via a system of proportional representation.

The executive committee (Junta de Freguesia) is the parish’s executive body and members are elected for a period of four years period by and from within the parish assembly’s members. The executive committee has responsibility for the preparation and implementation of parish assembly decisions.

The president (Presidente da junta de Freguesia) is elected for a fouryear mandate and is selected as the electoral candidate as a result of being head of the list with the most votes. He/she chairs the executive committee.

COMPETENCES

  • Maintenance of roads and parks
  • Culture and sports
  • Environment
  • Issuing of pet licences

 

Municipalities

The municipal assembly (Assembleia Municipal) is composed of the presidents of the parishes located within each municipality’s jurisdiction and of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term. It is the municipality’s deliberative body and monitors the activities of the executive council.

The executive council (Câmara Municipal) is the municipality’s executive branch and is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year period. Its members can intervene in the municipal assembly however they cannot vote. The executive council organises and implements municipal services, more specifically in the fields of municipal planning and public works.

The mayor (Presidente da Câmara Municipal) is elected for a four-year mandate and is selected as the electoral candidate as a result of having been head of the list with the most votes during the election of the executive council. He/she presides over the work of executive council.

Alongside the municipalities and parishes, Portuguese local selfgovernment units include other types of authorities, such as intermunicipal communities, associations of municipalities, big metropolitan areas and urban communities.

The role of these authorities is principally aimed at coordinating the municipal investments of intermunicipal interests. Their areas of competence also include strategic, economic, social and territorial management.

COMPETENCES

  • Education
  • Energy
  • Maintenance of roads and parks
  • Social facilities for children, youth and seniors
  • Culture and sports
  • Environment
  • Housing and urban planning
  • Health Care (PHC)
  • Procurement Contracts
  • Civil engineering
  • Community protection (municipal fire departments for example)
  • Municipal police
  • Town Twinning
  • Local residence permits
  • Infrastructure (water, waste, etc.)
Regional level :
2 autonomous regions (Açores and Madeira)

The legislative assembly (Assembleia Legislativa) is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage.

The president (President do Governo Regional) co-presides over the regional government for a period of four years.

See:
HISTORY
REFORMS
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