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to the Government of Catalonia > The territory’s
administrative organisation
The territory’s administrative organisation
Barcelona, capital of Catalonia.
Article 137 of the Spanish
Constitution states that “The State is organised
territorially into municipalities, provinces and into the
constituted autonomous communities. All of these entities
enjoy autonomy for the administration of their respective
interests”.
Correlatively, Article 5 of theCatalonia Statute of Autonomy states that “The Generalitat of Catalonia shall structure its territorial organisation into municipalities and comarques (county-like regions). Metropolitan bodies and communities of municipalities are also recognised as local organisations.
Municipalities
The municipality is the basic entity of territorial organisation in Catalonia, and is the body that makes it possible for individuals to participate in the public life of the community to which they belong.
Counties
The county is “a local territorial body formed by grouping together adjoining municipalities” and it has “its own legal character and full capacity and autonomy for carrying out its objectives”.
Metropolitan bodies
The conurbation of Barcelona and the counties lying within its area of direct influence have metropolitan bodies for providing determined services.
The community of municipalities
With the aim of administering common services or carrying out works, the municipalities can form associations with other municipalities, to create communities of municipalities, or with other public administrations or private non-profit making entities, giving rise to consortia.
Other administrations
In addition to Catalonia’s own institutions and organisms, there also exist institutions in this territory that depend on the State.
Correlatively, Article 5 of theCatalonia Statute of Autonomy states that “The Generalitat of Catalonia shall structure its territorial organisation into municipalities and comarques (county-like regions). Metropolitan bodies and communities of municipalities are also recognised as local organisations.
Municipalities
The municipality is the basic entity of territorial organisation in Catalonia, and is the body that makes it possible for individuals to participate in the public life of the community to which they belong.
Counties
The county is “a local territorial body formed by grouping together adjoining municipalities” and it has “its own legal character and full capacity and autonomy for carrying out its objectives”.
Metropolitan bodies
The conurbation of Barcelona and the counties lying within its area of direct influence have metropolitan bodies for providing determined services.
The community of municipalities
With the aim of administering common services or carrying out works, the municipalities can form associations with other municipalities, to create communities of municipalities, or with other public administrations or private non-profit making entities, giving rise to consortia.
Other administrations
In addition to Catalonia’s own institutions and organisms, there also exist institutions in this territory that depend on the State.
The provincial councils
The province is a local entity formed by the grouping together of municipalities, with its own legal character and fully empowered to carry out its ends; its running and administration correspond to the provincial councils. There are four provinces in Catalonia: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida i Tarragona.
The Delegation of the State Government
The Government Delegate “is the representative of the State Government within the territory of the Autonomous Community and exercises superior authority over the provincial sub-delegates and over all the bodies of the Civil Administration of the State located within the territory of the Autonomous Community". It is important to bear in mind, however, that the ordinary representation of the state falls to the President of the Generalitat, the highest political authority in Catalonia.
The Administration of Justice
For judicial purposes, the State is organised territorially into municipalities, districts, provinces and Autonomous Communities over which the Magistrates Courts, the Courts of First Instance and Preliminary Investigations, Provincial Courts and High Courts of Justice exercised jurisdictional powers respectively. Jurisdictional power is exercised throughout State territory by the National Criminal Court of the Supreme Court.