This special report is written by his colleague Dr. Zulima Sanchez , Professor of Administrative Law. The importance of the city is reflected in its historical influence on the policies of the national government during certain periods and, more recently, the search for new instruments to manage services and implement laws more efficiently. City halls are the purest example of ancient Greek democracy.
Cities provide a last chance to solve the crisis in representative democracy.
They could be the vehicle for providing a sense of community and fulfilling the citizens' need to participate in the decision making process. In order to understand how the city can reinvigorate democracy, we must understand how Spanish city halls work. This report first describes the division of power among the political units of this old country. In order to place the modern city in perspective, the report then provides a brief history of the evolution of cities. Finally, this report examines how the Spanish city hall is organized, including the main functions of its elected officials.