Local government in Gylias
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Gylias |
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
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
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.