engleski

Local Self-government in a Comparative Perspective

In liberal democracies, regardless of how the state is organized (federally or unitarily), there is some “pattern” of local self-government, most frequently with elected councils responsible for policy making and the management of a range of services. The exact form of this system, the number of local units, their type, and the relationship to the rest of the government structure depends on the history, organization, and political events that have taken place in a particular state. In any case, there is a general consensus that a vital system of local self- government is an integral part of the representative and responsible functioning of a liberal-democratic state. Different categorizations of the local self- government system are possible. In this paper, we will differentiate local systems in different states with regards to the relationships between the three fundamental layers we encounter in each local unit: political-representative, administrative, and executive. Depending on where the concentration of political influence takes place, we distinguish four systems of local government: the system of direct decision-making of all citizens, the “assembly” system, the executive boards system, and the individual officer system. The question is what is a “system of local self-government”? There are two key elements of the local system: the territorial foundation of local self-government and political-administrative institutions. In this regard, different typologies of the local self- government systems are possible. In this review, we will not address the territorial foundation of the local system ; instead, we will focus on the relationship between political institutions. It is possible to distinguish four institutions on a local scale: direct decision-making of all citizens, the mechanism of representation, collegial executive bodies, and individual executive bodies.

system of direct decision-making of all citizens, the “assembly” system, the executive boards system, and the individual official system

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