Comune

The communities (Italian: Comuni, Sg Comune ) are the lowest level of government in Italy. February 4, 2014, the general government statistics institute ISTAT counted 8,058 municipalities.

Construction

Apart from the special status of Rome as the capital of Italy, is from a legal point of view there is no difference between the communities. The relevant state law 142/1990 and the relevant regional laws regulate their concerns in a unified manner. Different municipal constitutions as in Germany there is not.

Similarly as in the regions and provinces, there are also in the communities three main organs:

• The directly elected municipal council ( consiglio Comunale ), with 12 to 60 members, depending on the population
• The directly elected mayor ( sindaco )
• The church board ( giunta Comunale ) in which the members appointed by the Mayor Aldermen ( Assessori ) sit. Each assessor with one or more subjects entrusted (eg safety, environment, tourism).

For municipalities with 30000-100000 inhabitants, it is possible to subdivide the municipality in Sprengel, which will serve the decentralization of municipal functions ( circoscrizioni di decentramento ). In that respect is an obligation for municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants.

Sprawling communities are scattered across several districts, so-called frazioni ( German and South Tyrol fractions). Thus, for example, the community burner from some groups, including the capital Gossensaß.

Functions

Under the principle of double standards distinguish between local self-government and order management.

All administrative powers are granted to the communities, if they are not explicitly transferred other local authorities ( provinces, regions, government) according to the Italian Constitution (Article 118). In particular, include social and spatial planning to the original functions of municipalities.

On behalf of the State, the municipalities take over the leadership of the election, the reporting and registry offices and the offices of Statistics. In addition, they were responsible to their removal, for the administrative enforcement of conscription.

Most communities in Italy also entertain a civil parish Police ( Polizia Municipale ), which reports to the respective mayors or local council and the legal supervision of the Italian regions or autonomous provinces subject. In general, the community police are responsible for the regulation and supervision of the local road traffic and takes over protection and administrative police tasks, provided they are not carried out by national police authorities.

Special Rome

According to the Constitution takes Rome as the capital of Italy, a special one (Roma Capitale ). This has been clarified by additional standards that Rome grant advanced features: the conservation of cultural heritage; the social and economic development, with particular reference to the manufacturing industry and tourism; urban development and spatial planning; the organization and operation of urban services, including public transport; of civil protection.

The name of the council as " Capitoline Assembly " ( assemblea capitolina ) and the municipal government as " Capitoline Committee " ( giunta capitolina ) to underline the special position of Rome.

Electoral system

For the application of the electoral system, the municipalities are divided into two categories.

For communities to 15,000 inhabitants, is the simple majority system applies: It is elected mayor who can unite the most votes, the supporting list gets him grds. two-thirds of the seats in the municipal council.

For municipalities over 15,000 inhabitants, the following applies: Achieved a candidate the absolute majority of the votes cast, he is voted in the first ballot for mayor. No candidate reaches this quorum, a runoff election between the two candidates with the most required. The coalition of the elected mayor gets usually 60 % of the seats in the municipal council.

If the mayor revoked the trust by the local council, he resigns or living from it, so new elections must be called. The same rule also applies to provinces and regions. In the meantime, the community is managed by a government commissioner. In general, the term of office of the mayor ( and the other municipal bodies ) is five years.

Designations

By decree of the President of the Republic of communities can be raised to the rank of cities ( città ). This has no legal implications. Only allowed to adorn its coat of arms with a golden crown such communities.

In South Tyrol, these communities are called boroughs. In addition, some localities may call there are market towns, where they held these in the days of the Habsburg monarchy, or at least 5,000 inhabitants count. Ladin communities in Trentino -Alto Adige is referred to Chemun or comun. In addition, all municipalities are in the province of Bolzano a German and an Italian place names.

In the Aosta Valley communities are referred to both as a comune ( it.) as well as commune (Fr. ). The place names themselves are all French, except for Aosta / Aosta, which is also the only città ville or the region.

In Friuli Venezia Giulia and Slovenia also furlanische names are to be found.

Amalgamation of local

Communities can form joint consortia ( consorzi ), for example, for the transport or waste collection, and join forces to exercise certain functions ( unioni di comuni ).

The regions have the constitutional authority to reorder the municipalities by law, ie to give rise to a merger or spin-off new communities. They can also organize existing mountain communities in so-called mountain communities ( comunità montana).

In South Tyrol, there is also the district communities, in the Trentino valley communities ( comunità di valle ).

Statistics

Prettau in Alto Adige is the most northerly community on the Italian territory. In Lampedusa e Linosa is Italy's southernmost point.

The municipality with the largest dimension is Rome ( 1285 km ²), with the smallest Fiera di Primiero in Trentino (0.15 km ²).

Rome is also the most populous municipality, with over 2.7 million residents. Only 33 residents, however, include the Lombard Pedesina, in the province of Sondrio.

The ten largest cities (as of 31 December 2012):