MUNICIPALITIES IN SLOVENIA

In Slovenia there are 193 municipalities, of which 11 are urban municipalities (Celje, Koper, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec and Velenje).

The largest in number of inhabitants is the urban municipality of Ljubljana (276,313 inhabitants), and the smallest is the municipality of Hodoš with 371 inhabitants.

Breakdown of municipalities by number of inhabitants.

Number of inhabitants	Number of municipalities	%
Under 5.000	95	49
From 5.000 to 10.000	44	23
From 10.000 to 50.000	51	26,5
From 50.000 to 100.000	1	0,5
Over 100.000	2	1
Total	193	100

Pursuant to the Local Self-government Act, a Slovene municipality has three bodies: a municipal (town) council, a mayor and a supervisory committee. In the administration of the Municipality the crucial roles are played by the first two bodies, whereas the supervisory committee is the body controlling the public expenditures in the municipality.

Municipalies; Municipal boundaries; Source: Statistic bureau of Republic Slovenia, Geodetic Administration of Republic Slovenia

1. Pomurje region 2. Podravje region 3. Koroška region 4. Savinjska region 5. Zasavska region 6. Spodnjeposavska region 7. Region Jugovzhodna Slovenija 8. Osrednjeslovenska region 9. Gorenjska region 10. Notranjska region 11. Goriška region 12. Obalno-kraška region
Boundaries of the statistic regions and administration units

Source: Statistic bureau of Republic Slovenia, Geodetic Administration of Republic Slovenia, February 2001

MUNICIPAL COUNCIL AND MAYOR

At direct secret elections (proportional and majority system) inhabitants elect candidates to a representative body which, in Slovenia, is called a council. The council should be the body of a local self-government community which enables the influence of inhabitants of this community on decision-making. Via direct and secret elections pursuant to the criteria of modern democracy this influence is realized so that inhabitants may influence the issues as to who represents their interest in this body. Elections also exert a mobilization influence on inhabitants and produce an effect of an identification lever of inhabitants with the local community.

So elected representative body is the highest body of local self-government which adopts the most important acts and other decisions as well as performs the supervisory function. If we express it in a simplified way: the council performs the legislative function at the local level. The functions of local self-government resemble the functions of state administration. The principle of the division of authority to the legislative and executive branches can also be implemented at the local level. Both functions at the local administration level are performed by various local bodies. This also depends on the size of the local community. In local administration the most important decisions are made by a representative body elected by inhabitants, while the functions of local self-government are also performed by executive and administrative bodies.

Powers of the mayor (elected by majority voting system) may arise directly from the law or/and acts adopted by the local community's council. The way the mayor is appointed importantly influences his relation to the local community's council, since in case of a direct election at direct elections the mayor's position is substantially stronger and authority bigger. He/she also chairs the local community's council. System of local self-government has also at least one deputy mayors.

Let us in a few words define the role, powers and tasks which pursuant to the valid Local Self-government Act are performed by the municipal council and the mayor. In accordance with the law, the town council is the highest decision-making body deciding about all issues within the framework of rights and obligations of the municipality. Subjects of its jurisdiction are: adoption of the statutes, decrees and other municipal acts, spatial and other municipal development plans, the budget and final account; giving consent to the transfer of tasks from the state competence to the municipal one; appointing and recalling of the supervisory board members as well as members of commissions and committees of the municipal council; monitoring of the work of the mayor, deputy mayor and municipal administration regarding the implementation of decisions of the municipal council; giving opinions concerning the appointment of heads of administrative units; appointing and recalling of the municipality's representatives to the advisory committee of the head of the administrative unit; making decisions on the acquisition and alienation of the municipal property; appointing and recalling of members to the board for the protection of public goods' consumers; and making decisions on other issues stipulated by the law and statutes. It may also reach decisions on issues of state jurisdiction transposed to the municipality pursuant to the law, if not otherwise stipulated by the law so that decisions on these issues shall be reached by some other body.

The mayor represents the municipality and municipal council, convenes and chairs the council's meetings (but has no right to vote), proposes to the council the adoption of the municipality's budget and final account of the budget, decrees and other acts within the jurisdiction of the municipal council, and takes care of the implementation of decisions of the municipal council. The mayor also takes care of publishing the statutes, decrees and other general acts of the municipality. He/she may withhold the implementation of a certain decision of the municipal council if he/she estimates it to be unlawful or in contradiction with the statutes or other general act of the municipality.

ORGANS OF THE MUNICIPALITY

The organs of the municipality are: TOWN COUNCIL, MAYOR AND THE SUPERVISING COMMITTEE.

THE TOWN COUNCIL

is the highest organ of decision-making in the municipality. It is concerned with the rights and duties of the municipality. It has 45 members.

The mayor represents the town council, he convenes and leads the town council meetings.

The vice-mayor can be authorized for the leading of the meeting. The Town Councile meetings are convened once a months.

WORKING BODIES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL

are committees and commissions of The Town Council. It has the following committees :

a committee for communal and economic public services
a committee for economy
a committee for finance
a committee for culture, education and sport
a committee for welfare , youth and health
a committee for forestry, agriculture and supply
a committee for environment protection
a committee for the local self-management and general affairs

COMMISSIONS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL ARE:

a commission for mandate questions, elections and appointments
a statutory-juridical commission
a commission for acknowledgments and awards

THE SUPERVISING COMMITTEE

is the highest supervising organ of public consumption in the municipality. Its duties are:

supervising the disposability of the municipal funds
supervising the expedience of the municipal budget
supervising the financial operations of the municipal budget users

DUTIES OF THE MUNICIPALITY

For the fulfilling the needs of its inhabitants it has following duties:

receives statute and other general documents; it organizes the town administration and the town supervision
directs the municipal fund
plans the town development, takes care for the environmental and constructional works
it determines the use of the town areas
enables the conditions for the economic development of the municipality and following the legislation it does the duties on the catering industry, agricultural and tourism area
establishes, administrate and takes care for local public services
protects the air, soil and water sources; noise protection; organizes the garbage collecting …
constructs and directs the town communal objects and the town traffic
constructs, maintains and repairs the local main roads and streets, takes care for order in town …
cares for the welfare services, pre-school services, invalids and old people
accelerates educational, research, sport activities
accelerates cultural - artistic development and the development of libraries
organizes the cemetery and funeral public services
organizes blood donations
creates conditions for construction of new apartments
cares for order and peace in the municipality
supervises the local performances
prevents the fire danger and organizes help and rescuing actions in case of elementary disasters and other accidents
co-operates with the partner municipalities, towns and local communities
cares for statistic, evidential and analytical functions of the municipality
cares for other local affairs of the local meaning

TOWN MUNICIPALITY ON ITS AREA MAINLY

manages the local public traffic
arranges the operating time in the catering industry
fulfills tasks in the constructional and environmental works
cares for geodetic tasks
assures the public net of gymnasiums, secondary, vocational schools and colleges

THE TOWN MUNICIPALITY REGULATES THE FOLLOWING TAXES AND OTHER INCOMES:

property tax
legacy duty
lottery tax
real estate tax
determines the rents for apartments, business bureaus … other municipal objects

DIRECT CO-OPERATION OF THE CITIZEN IN THE DECISION - MAKING

These forms are the Assembly of citizens, referendum and people's initiative.

CITIZENS ON THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITIZENS:

discuss prepositions for any changes in the municipality area
discuss prepositions for co-operation with other municipalities
discuss prepositions for establishment or abolition of the town districts
suggest the new names for streets, roads and districts
perform the duties of the electors
give suggestions for the development of the municipality
give opinion about some major constructional works (bridges, roads )
give opinion about the work of the public economy services

REFERENDUM

The Town Council can call a referendum, where the citizens may accept or refuse the given document about municipality. The decision is accepted if the majority of the electors voted positively.

The initiative for the referendum may be given by every elector. At least 5% of the electors may demand the acceptance or annulment of the general document.

HOW DO YOU EVALUATE WORK OF YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT?

Work of the town council is evaluated every 4 years on the municipal elections, when the new members of the council and the mayor are elected. It is certainly evaluated during their work as well with the help of media.

In Slovenia the local government actually performs the duties which was it elected for. The duties are ordered by the system of the local self-government.

HOW DOES THE SCHOOL PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE A CITIZEN, DO YOU TEACH THEM HOW TO USE THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS AND HOW TO FULFILL THEIR DUTIES?

The educational system in Slovenia is focused on the high national sense. In this context students become familiar with the children, national and civil rights. On the level of the local communes the educational work helps to build the appurtenance to the commune.