Descripció
This contribution analyzes the two types of sub-municipal units of government in Spain. The typical units in rural areas (EATIMs) and those implemented in big cities (districts) express specific answers to different circumstances. While the first are the consequence of historically rooted institutions that have evolved up to the present without much change, the second emerged recently to give an answer to the functioning of big cities trying to put local democracy closer to citizens by decentralizing tasks and implementing citizens’ participation mechanisms. The chapter explores their contrasting origins, legal framework, functioning, election and representation systems, transferred tasks, and financial systems.
