Georgia

The municipal/city assembly (sakrebulo) is the local authority’s legislative deliberative body and is composed of members elected from single mandate constituencies using a party list system for a four-year term. This assembly oversees the activities of the municipal/city board and elects its chief executive officer. It also reviews and approves the local budget and local socio-economic development plans and can introduce taxes and fees as well as any other legally prescribed measures. The assembly can also set up committees such as the legal affairs committee, the social affairs committee and the finance and budget committee.

The chair of the municipal or city assembly (sakrebulos tavmjdomare), is elected by and from within the municipal or city assembly for a period of four years. The chair organises the work of the municipal or city assembly and approves council decisions.

The municipal/city executive branch is represented by a mayor, elected by direct universal suffrage with a 50% minimum threshold. The executive branch also comprises the heads of several structural and territorial units present in each local authority and implements decisions taken by the municipal or city council. The mayor is the supreme official head of the city/municipality.

The capital city of Tbilisi exercises additional competences delegated by central government agencies, including military recruitment, emergency response and state of emergency, environment and legalisation of property. Tbilisi fulfils also broader functions as well, such as the organisation of local business support programmes and social protection. The capital has its own municipal cabinet, headed by the mayor, which also comprises the vice-mayor, two deputies and the heads of the sectoral departments, inter alia, transport, social affairs and architecture. Each department has its own head and staff.

The city of Tbilisi is divided into ten administrative districts. Each district has its own executive branch headed by a chief executive officer appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city assembly.

The remaining local government units in Georgia have limited delegated powers, which extend mainly to military procurement and sanitation. The tasks are delegated by specific ministries through legal decisions or agreemenst between the relevant ministry and a given municipality.

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