LOCAL AND REGIONAL STRUCTURES IN PORTUGAL
Portugal is a unitary State composed of parishes, municipalities, districts and regions.
Local level: 4260 parishes (freguesias) and 308 municipalities (municípios)
Parish authorities
The parish assembly (assembleia de freguesia) is a deliberative body of the parish. The assembly is composed of councillors elected for a four-year term by direct universal suffrage on a proportional representation system.
The executive committee (junta de freguesia) is the executive body of the parish. Membres are elected by and within the assembly. They are responsible for the preparation and implementation of decisions of the assembly.
The president is the candidate heading the list with the most votes. (S)he is elected for four years.
Competences
. Education
. Culture
. Environment
. Health
Municipal authorities
The municipal assembly (assembleia municipal) is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term, and of the municipal area Parish Presidents. The assembly, the deliberative body of the municipality, also monitors activities of the executive.
The executive council (câmara municipal) is a collegial body composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for four years. Members of the executive can intervene in the Municipal Assembly where they also vote. This executive board has competences in the organisation and functioning of services, more specifically in urbanism and public works.
The mayor is the candidate heading the list with the most votes, at the time of the assembly election. (S)he is elected for four years.
Competences
. Health
. Environment
. Culture
. Management of municipal assets
. Public works
. Urbanism
Note: Alongside the municipalities and the parishes, the Portuguese local administration has other forms of organisation also importants for the process of development: intermunicipal communities with general goals, associations of Municipalities with specific goals, big metropolitain areas, urban communities.
These entities aim mainly at:
. coordinating the municipal investments of supra-municipal interest;
. coordinating the relations between the municipalities and the central administration services;
. the planning and strategic, economic and social management;
. the territorial management.
Intermediary level: 18 districts (divisão distrital)
The civil governor (governador civil) heads the district. (S)he is nominated by the central government. The governor represents the government in the district; her/his competences are delegated by the Home Affairs minister.
Regional level: 2 autonomous regions (Açores and Madeira)
Though the portuguese constitutions includes a regional level, proper regions have not been created yet with the exception of the two autonomous regions, the islands of Açores and Madeira. These two regions have a legislative assembly elected by universal suffrage, a regional government headed by the region's president, and a minister of the Republic. The minister is the national government's representative in the region, has the right of veto concerning decrees of the assembly, and appoints the president of the regional government.
