History
Colony
San Salvador, founded in 1525 by Pedro de Alvarado, is the first municipality established in Central America. The Spanish organized the cabildos and ayuntamientos in the cities.Post independence
In the first Constitution of the State of El Salvador, the limits of each municipality were established. On September 4, 1832, the Reglament of Political Governors, Municipalities and Mayors was emitted. This reglament established limits and jurisdictions for the Departments and regulated the municipalities and the position of Mayors. According to the reglament, the municipal councils were organized according to the following criteria: To become a member of the municipal council the requirements were: citizenship, 25 years of age, of "known morality", and being a neighbor of the territory or region of the municipality. The municipalities that were capitals of ''partidos'' (districts) had to establish ''Juntas'' ''de sanidad'' (boards of sanitation) composed of the First Alcalde, the parroquial priest, one Regidor, those trained in or practicing medicine or surgery and one neighbor named by the municipal council. The municipality was in charge of the statistics and public works of its jurisdiction. On December 9, 1854, the government decreed various changes for the governance of municipalities. The number of members of the municipal councils was reformed in the following way: there would be 1 Alcalde and 1 Síndico for each population and the number of regidores would be determined according to the following criteria: * 1 regidor in populations with no more than 3000 inhabitants. * 3 regidores in populations with 3000 to 10,000 inhabitants. * 5 regidores in populations with more than 10,000 inhabitants. This decree also established the ''Juzgado de Paz'' (Justice of the Peace) which separated judicial matters from the political government of the municipalities. These were established with the following numbers: * 1 proprietary Juez de Paz, and 1 auxiliary for populations with 1 or 3 regidores. * 2 proprietary Jueces de Paz, and 2 auxiliaries for populations with 5 regidores. On November 12, 1861, the government of presidentRequirements for creating a municipality
According to Chapter I, Title IV of the Municipal Code, the requirements for the creation of a municipality are: # A population of no less than 50,000 inhabitants. # A determined territory. # A population center with no less than 20,000 inhabitants, which will serve as the seat of its authorities. # The possibility of sufficient resources to attend the costs of government, administration and the presentation of essential public services. # Conformity with the plans of national development. The creation, fusion or incorporation of municipalities corresponds to the Legislative Assembly.Government
The municipal government is exerted by a ''Consejo Municipal'' (Municipal Council), which has the characteristics of deliberative and normative. It is integrated by an ''Alcalde'' (Mayor), one ''Sindico'' (Legal representative) and a number of proprietary ''Regidores'' (Council members) that is proportionate to the population and 4 auxiliary ''Regidores.'' The proportion of the amount of ''Regidores'' is: * 2 regidores in municipalities with up to 10,000 inhabitants. * 4 in those with between 10,000 and 20,000 inhabitants. * 6 in those with between 20,000 and 50,000 inhabitants. * 8 in those with between 50,000 and 100,000 inhabitants. * 10 in those with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Members of the municipal councils must be both at least 21 and residents of the municipality. Directly elected, municipal officials serve three-year terms and may be re-elected. Municipios are not all of equal size but are required to have a population of at least 10,000. Boundaries are determined by the Legislative Assembly. The powers of local government are those given by the central government. Because department governors are appointed by the president, their independence is questionable. Despite their status as elected representatives, the powers of municipal officeholders are also limited in certain key areas. The most glaring example is taxation. Although the municipal councils are allowed to suggest local taxes and tax rates, only the Legislative Assembly has the power to levy the taxes. Therefore, all funds used by the councils are appropriated and disbursed by the assembly, but such funds are earmarked in the budget and are not incorporated into the central government's general fund. Among the duties relegated to the municipal councils under the Salvadoran Municipal Code is the holding of town meetings (''cabildos abiertos'') at least once every three months. The council is enjoined from acting against the majority opinion expressed at the town meetings. The municipal councils also grant legal recognition (personalidad juridica) to communal associations in their municipios. The councils are required to meet periodically with representatives of the communal associations and to consult with them on the appointment of representatives to advisory and other local commissions. The councils also issue local ordinances and regulations.Territorial organization
Municipalities are subdivided into one urban area which is the municipal capital and variousSee also
*References
Bibliography
* * * {{Articles on second-level administrative divisions of North American countries Subdivisions of El Salvador