The System of Local Government in Romania

Introduction

Local Government of a non-hierarchical two tier structure. The upper tier consists of 41 judete. The lower tier is made up of three categories of local authority: 2,800 commune (up to 5,000 population), 280 orase (5-20,000 approx.) and 86 municipii. This categories date back to 1877 (the year of formal Rumanian independence), and earlier - the term municipium was used for the 9 principal cities of Roman Dacia. Traditionally municipiile have the right of autonomy in internal affairs. According to the Law 69/91, republished under the terms of Law 24/April 1996, local autonomy is "administrative and carried out within the framework of the law". Currently, new amendments to the law have been proposed by the actual government. Shortly, the new law is expected as result of the ongoing discussions in the parliament.

All local authorities are legally constituted. They may own property and posses certain several powers.

All lower tier authorities are represented by the local council consiliul local and a directly elected mayor primarul. The municipality of Bucharest has a Mayor General primarul general. Bucharest is divided into six sectors sectoare, each of which has its own mayor.

The local government of the municipality of Bucharest is represented by the local councils of the sectors of Bucharest, consiliile locale ale sectoarelor Municipiului Bucuresti, and the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest, Consiliul General al Municipilui Bucuresti.

The mayor is in charge of the local administration, is accountable to the council for its functioning, and represents the authority in its relations with other bodies.

The mayor is aided by the deputy-mayor viceprimarul, elected from amongst the members of the Council. The country-town municipalities and the sectors of Bucharest have one have one mayor and two deputy-majors while the municipality of Bucharest has a mayor general and four-deputy mayors.

In each county there is consiliul judetean, which has a coordinating role and is directly elected.

The county council elects from among its members a chairman presidintele, the vice-presidents vicepresedintii, and a permanent delegation of the council delegatia permanenta a consiliului judetean. Officially there is no subordination between the two tiers of sub-national government. The Government appoints a prefect prefect in each county and in the municipality of Bucharest. The prefect represents the Government and manages the decentralized public services of the ministries at the level of territorial-administrative units. The prefect may institute proceedings in the Court against any acts or decisions of the local authorities which could be deemed unlawful. The prefect's office prefectura has a technical specialist body, whose structure and obligations are established by a decision of the Government.

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