Local government in Gylias: Difference between revisions

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{{Politics of Gylias}}
{{Politics of Gylias}}


[[Gylias]] is a {{wpl|federalism|federal}} {{wpl|republic}} with three levels of governance: federal, regional, and municipal. '''Local government in Gylias''' has a special significance due to the country's use of {{wpl|direct democracy}} mechanisms and strongly {{wpl|decentralisation|decentralised}} organisation. Governance has been shaped by the country's strong [[Anarchism in Gylias|anarchist]] heritage, with local government being placed at the centre of [[Politics of Gylias|Gylian politics]] and higher levels of governance being non-hierarchical and based on the principle of {{wpl|subsidiarity}}.
'''Local government in Gylias''' has a special significance due to the country's use of [[Politics of Gylias#Direct democracy|direct democracy]] mechanisms and strongly {{wpl|decentralisation|decentralised}}, {{wpl|federalism|federal}} organisation.  
 
Governance has been shaped by the country's strong [[Anarchism in Gylias|anarchist]] heritage, with local government being placed at the centre of [[Politics of Gylias|Gylian politics]] and higher levels of governance being non-hierarchical and based on the principle of {{wpl|subsidiarity}}.
 
Local governance functions are exercised mainly by [[Municipalities of Gylias|municipalities]] and [[Regions of Gylias|regions]].


==Principles of local governance==
==Principles of local governance==
The [[Constitution of Gylias]] establishes [[Communal assemblies (Gylias)|communal assemblies]], weekly meetings at a community level where issues are debated and decisions taken, as the "main organ of governance". According to this principle, governance starts at the lowest tier of administration possible, with higher tiers exercising responsibilities that are delegated to them by popular will. As a result, regional and federal governments have well-defined limits on their capabilities, playing more of a coordinating role, and most responsibilities are {{wpl|concurrent powers|shared}} by all levels of governance, with a preference for their exercise at the most local level possible.
The [[Constitution of Gylias]] establishes [[Communal assemblies (Gylias)|communal assemblies]], weekly meetings at a community level where issues are debated and decisions taken, as the "main organ of governance". According to this principle, governance starts at the lowest tier of administration possible, with higher tiers exercising responsibilities that are delegated to them by popular will.  
 
As a result, regional and federal governments have well-defined limits on their capabilities, playing more of a coordinating role, and most responsibilities are {{wpl|concurrent powers|shared}} by all levels of governance, with a preference for their exercise at the most local level possible.


Gylias originally had only two tiers of administration between 1958 and 1970: federal and municipal. The intermediary regional tier was established by a local government reform after the [[Gylian federal election, 1969|1969 federal election]], with the first regional elections taking place [[Gylian regional elections, 1970|the following year]].
Gylias originally had only two tiers of administration between 1958 and 1970: federal and municipal. The intermediary regional tier was established by a local government reform after the [[Gylian federal election, 1969|1969 federal election]], with the first regional elections taking place [[List of Gylian regional elections#1970|the following year]].


Like all other legislatures in Gylias, municipal and regional assemblies are {{wpl|citizen legislature|popular legislatures}} whose members serve part-time.
Like all other legislatures in Gylias, municipal and regional assemblies are {{wpl|citizen legislature|popular legislatures}} whose members serve part-time.


==Municipalities==
==Municipalities==
Municipalities ({{wpl|French language|French}}: ''municipalités'') are the lowest level of {{wpl|local government}}, and thus the foundation of Gylian local government. There are a total of 3175 municipalities in Gylias. Based on their population and geography, they are classified as urban, rural, or natural. The last type are uninhabited and located entirely in {{wpl|protected area}}s, being governed by special bodies constituted by neighbouring municipalities.
{{main|Municipalities of Gylias}}
 
Municipalities ({{wpl|French language|French}}: ''municipalités'') are the lowest level of {{wpl|local government}}. They cover the entire territory of Gylias, and are responsible for a wide range of local services.
Municipalities cover the entire territory of Gylias, and there are no {{wpl|unincorporated area}}s. As municipal boundaries are based on population, with a threshold of at least 1000 residents, this has caused some municipalities to cover large areas of sparsely populated land.
 
===Municipal governance===
{{See also|Elections in Gylias#Municipal elections|l1=Municipal elections}}
Municipalities, as larger administrative entities than common assemblies, complement the common assemblies in a [[Politics of Gylias#Cooperative democracy|cooperative]] {{wpl|Dual power (leftist theory)|dual power}} system, fulfilling the role of balancing competing interests, ensuring equal representation, and overseeing fair development of the community.
 
The norm of local government is for smaller municipalities (which are also often rural) to govern themselves through {{wpl|direct democracy}}, taking decisions in communal assemblies and extraordinary assemblies if necessary. Municipalities with a larger population elect their own assemblies, the {{wpl|municipal council}}s (''conseils municipales'').
 
Many of Gylias' larger cities have formed {{wpl|city council}}s (''conseils urbaines''), by federating their municipal councils into a single city-wide council, which govern in cooperation with communal assemblies. Municipal government members, heading specific departments, are known as ediles, from the Latin ''{{wpl|aedile}}''.
 
The majority of municipalities use a {{wpl|directorial system}}, where the council collectively forms the municipal government, and appoints a professional manager — often a notable local figure — to ceremonially chair its meetings. Large cities have {{wpl|mayor}}s (''maires''), which are elected by voters separately.
 
Municipal elections are notable for being dominated by {{wpl|residents' association}}s, {{wpl|localism (politics)|localist parties}}, and independent candidates, with larger federal parties and {{wpl|electoral bloc}}s being [[Politics of Gylias#Local|comparatively disadvantaged]]. The [[Urban Movement (Gylias)|Urban Movement]], [[Free Land Party (Gylias)|Free Land Party]], and [[Independent Regional Alliance for Minorities (Gylias)|Independent Regional Alliance for Minorities]] are parties notable for their strong success at a local level. A plurality of all mayors elected since independence have been UM.
 
===Municipal responsibilities===
Municipalities are responsible for a wide range of local services, and other sectors that have been {{wpl|municipalisation|municipalised}}. Legally, municipalities can take on any competence they wish, as long as it does not disrupt the constitutional foundation of Gylias.
 
Their responsibilities include:
* {{wpl|Child care}} and {{wpl|pre-tertiary education}}
* {{wpl|Primary education}} and {{wpl|secondary education}}
* {{wpl|Social services}}, {{wpl|elderly care}}, and {{wpl|services and supports for people with disabilities}}
* {{wpl|Emergency service}}s
* {{wpl|Waste management}}, {{wpl|sewage treatment}}, {{wpl|water supply}}, and other {{wpl|sanitation}} services
* {{wpl|Urban planning}} and {{wpl|land management}}
* {{wpl|Public housing}}, maintenance, and beautification
* {{wpl|Recycling}} and local environmental policies
* {{wpl|Public utility|Public utilities}}
* {{wpl|Transport}} and local {{wpl|infrastructure}}
 
Municipalities cooperate with regional and federal governments in delivering {{wpl|public service}}s and {{wpl|social security}}. In addition, they organise leisure and cultural activities, and oversee parks, playgrounds, and other open spaces.
 
Municipalities are required by law to hold regular public consultations, separate from but complementing communal assemblies. A notable feature of these consultations is that children are polled for what events and activities they want, based on which the councils formulate annual play action plans.
 
Municipalities finance themselves through local taxes (of which {{wpl|land value tax}} and {{wpl|property tax}} are the most significant), {{wpl|municipal bond}}s and {{wpl|local currency|local currencies}}. In addition, they receive all taxation levied in their territory at the federal level.


==Regions==
==Regions==
Regions (French: ''régions'') are the second level of local government, representing the layer between the municipalities and the federal government. There are 20 administrative regions. They are formed by the federation of municipalities, and mainly carry out roles of coordination and management.
{{main|Regions of Gylias}}
 
Regions (French: ''régions'') are constituted as federations of municipalities, representing the intermediate level between municipal and federal governance. They mainly carry out roles of coordination and management.
===Regional governance===
{{See also|Elections in Gylias#Regional elections|l1=Regional elections}}
 
Each administrative region elects an assembly, known as the regional council, as well as separate governors (''gouverneurs''). Regional government members, heading specific departments, are known as {{wpl|prefect}}s.
 
Regional elections feature strong representation for {{wpl|regionalism (politics)|regionalist}} [[Politics of Gylias#Local|parties]].
 
===Regional responsibilities===
Administrative regions are responsible for matters handled at a local level but which require greater amounts of coordination and planning than municipalities can provide. In addition to their coordination and management responsibilities, they also have an executive function, carrying out the implementation of policies made at the municipal or federal level.
 
Their responsibilities include:
* Regional healthcare and educational organisation
* Transport planning and regional infrastructure
* Environmental and conservation policies
* Regional development and planning
* Overseeing the {{wpl|deposit-refund system}}s
* Agricultural policy and land management
 
Regional governments collaborate with federal and municipal governments in delivering {{wpl|public service}}s and {{wpl|social security}}.
 
Administrative regions finance themselves through regional taxes (including {{wpl|currency transaction tax}}es, {{wpl|financial transfer tax}}es, and {{wpl|Pigovian tax}}es) and {{wpl|local currency|regional currencies}}. In addition, they request funds from municipalities to cover regional projects, and receive {{wpl|equalisation payments}} at the federal level.
 
===List of regions===
{{Gylian regions}}


{{Gylias Navbox}}
{{Gylias Navbox}}


[[Category:Politics of Gylias]]
[[Category:Politics of Gylias]]

Latest revision as of 14:51, 14 July 2020

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Local government in Gylias has a special significance due to the country's use of direct democracy mechanisms and strongly decentralised, federal organisation.

Governance has been shaped by the country's strong anarchist heritage, with local government being placed at the centre of Gylian politics and higher levels of governance being non-hierarchical and based on the principle of subsidiarity.

Local governance functions are exercised mainly by municipalities and regions.

Principles of local governance

The Constitution of Gylias establishes communal assemblies, weekly meetings at a community level where issues are debated and decisions taken, as the "main organ of governance". According to this principle, governance starts at the lowest tier of administration possible, with higher tiers exercising responsibilities that are delegated to them by popular will.

As a result, regional and federal governments have well-defined limits on their capabilities, playing more of a coordinating role, and most responsibilities are shared by all levels of governance, with a preference for their exercise at the most local level possible.

Gylias originally had only two tiers of administration between 1958 and 1970: federal and municipal. The intermediary regional tier was established by a local government reform after the 1969 federal election, with the first regional elections taking place the following year.

Like all other legislatures in Gylias, municipal and regional assemblies are popular legislatures whose members serve part-time.

Municipalities

Main article: Municipalities of Gylias

Municipalities (French: municipalités) are the lowest level of local government. They cover the entire territory of Gylias, and are responsible for a wide range of local services.

Regions

Main article: Regions of Gylias

Regions (French: régions) are constituted as federations of municipalities, representing the intermediate level between municipal and federal governance. They mainly carry out roles of coordination and management.

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