A municipio (Spanish for "municipality") is a second-level political and administrative division in Mexico. Each of Mexico's 31 states is divided into a variable number of municipios, ranging from five in Baja California and Baja California Sur to 570 in Oaxaca. The Mexican municipios can be compared to the counties of the United States, although the local municipal government (ayuntamiento), headed by a presidente municipal ("municipal president"), can be more usefully compared to that of a city mayor in the United States. Municipio (Spanish and Italian) and Município (Portuguese) are the terms used for the following subnational entities: Municipio (Argentina) Município (Brazil) Municipio (Italy) Municipio (Mexico) See also Municipality List of terms for subnational entities Categories: Disambiguation | Subnational entities ... A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ... A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ... The United Mexican States or Mexico (Estados Unidos Mexicanos or México) is a federal republic made up of 31 states (estados) and one Federal District, (Distrito Federal), which contains the capital, Mexico City. ... Baja California is the northernmost state of Mexico; it is mostly located on the northern half of the Baja California peninsula. ... Baja California Sur is one of the 31 States of Mexico, occupying the part of the Baja California Peninsula south of the 28th parallel. ... The Mexican state of Oaxaca is in the south west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. ... A mayor (from the Latin maīor, meaning larger,greater) is the politician who serves as chief executive official of some types of municipalities. ...

History

The Mexican constitution of 1917 created the concept of the municipio libre ("free municipality") in its 115th and 116th articles to decentralize the government and allow communities to govern themselves. This spirit of communal government was inherited from the concept of the Roman municipium of antiquity applied during Spanish colonial rule in Mexico. The 115th article was modified in 1983 to expand the municipio's authority to raise revenue and formulate budgets. This article is about the current Political Constitution of the United Mexican States. ... Decentralisation (or decentralization) is any of various means of more widely distributing decision-making to bring it closer to the point of service or action. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that existed in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East between 753 BC and its downfall in AD 476. ... A municipium was the second highest class of a Roman city, and was inferior in status to the colonia. ... Flag of New Spain New Spain (in the Spanish language Nueva España) was the name given to the Spanish colonial territory in North America from c. ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Responsibilites

The ayuntamientos are responsible for public services (such as water and sewerage), street lighting, public safety, traffic, supervision of slaughterhouses and the cleaning and maintenance of public parks, gardens and cemeteries. Municipios may also assist the state and federal governments in education, emergency fire and medical services, environmental protection and maintenance of monuments and historical landmarks.

Budget

Municipios can collect property taxes and user fees although more funds are obtained from the state and federal governments than from their own collection efforts.

See also

• Municipality

A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ...

External links

• Mexican government structure.
• History of the Mexican constitution (in Spanish).
• Constitutional amendments to strengthen municipios (in Spanish).