LOCAL AND REGIONAL STRUCTURES IN SLOVAKIA
Slovakia is unitary State composed of regions and municipalities.
Local level: 2931 municipalities (obec)
Local/municipal authorities
The municipality members' corporation (obecné zastupiteľstvo) is composed of members elected for four years by universal, direct suffrage. It is a consultative body.
The mayor (starosta/primátor) is elected for four years by universal, direct suffrage. The mayor chairs the municipality corporation and municipal council, and holds the main executive power.
The municipal council (obecná rada) may be established by the municipality corporation. The municipal council is composed of representatives of the municipality corporation, who are elected by this corporation for the whole term. The municipal council is an initiative, executive and control body of municipality corporation. It carries out the tasks of this corporation and is the consultative body of the mayor.
Note: The cities of Bratislava and Košice have two levels of self-administration: magistrate (City) and municipal wards.
Competences
. Local roads
. Public transport
. Environment
. Water supply
. Sewerage and communal waste
. Local development
. Housing
. Pre-school and school facilities, social facilities, health-care facilities,
. Culture
. Participation at regional plans.
Municipalities may make business and be part of business entities. They may also perform duties in the name of the state (mainly registrar offices, construction order and some aspects of education), though the state is liable for managing the quality and funding of such duties.
Regional level: 8 Superior Territorial Whole (vyšší územný celok)
Regional authorities
The corporation members (zastupitel'stvo) is a regional consultative body whose members are elected for four years by universal, direct suffrage.
The chairman (predseda) is elected by universal, direct suffrage. (S)he represents the region and is assisted by an office responsible for the management of administrative services and for the organisation of the region.
The commission (komisia) may be establish by the corporation members from the representative members of the region and from others persons voted by corporation members. The commission is an initiative, executive and control body of corporation members.
Competences
Own competences
. Roads
. Land planning
. Regional development, own investment ventures
. Secondary schools
. Hospitals
. Social services
. Culture
. Participation at civil defence
. Licences for pharmacies and private physicians
Competences transferred from state administration: some competences in education, health-care sector, road transport.
