The System of Local Government in Romania

Organizational and Electoral Matters

The local and the county council are elected by suffrage expressed on the basis of the list ballot.

Each judet council elects a chairman presedinte, vicepresidents vicepresedintii and a permanent delegation.

The municipal administration is headed by a secretary secretar , a career civil servant who reports to the mayor; the secretary is appointed by the prefect on the basis of the council's proposals, at the mayor's initiative, by competition or examination.

The number of councillors per head of population ranges from 11 councillors for a commune of 3,000 population or less, to 35 councillors for a population of 400,000 or over. Bucharest (2m pop.) is an exception with 65 councillors for the city overall, and up to 35 councillors in each of its six sectors.

Judete (upper tier) councils range from 37 (for a population of up to 350,000) to 45 (for a population 500,000 or over).

Upper tier councils meet once every two months in ordinary sessions, whilst the lower tier councils meet monthly or at the instigation of the mayor.