Home /
Members /
Members map /
Portugal
Portugal
Portugal is a unitary state composed of parishes (freguesias), municipalities (municípios) and autonomous regions.

Parishes:
The parish assembly (assembleia de freguesia) is the deliberative body of the parish and is composed of councillors elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year period via a system of proportional representation.
Municipalities:
The municipal assembly (assembleia municipal) is made up of the presidents of the municipality’s parishes and of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term. It is the municipality’s deliberative body and monitors the activities of the executive council.
Parishes:
The executive committee (junta de freguesia) is the parish’s executive body and members are elected for a period of four years by and from among the parish assembly’s members. The executive committee is responsible for preparing and implementing parish assembly decisions.
Municipalities:
The executive council (câmara municipal) is the municipality’s executive branch and is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year period. Its members can also take part in the municipal assembly; however, they cannot vote. The executive council organises and implements municipal services, such as municipal planning and public works.
Parishes:
The president (presidente da junta de freguesia) is elected for a four-year mandate based on he/she being the head of the list that receives the most votes. The president chairs the executive committee.
Municipalities:
The mayor (presidente da câmara municipal) is elected for a four-year mandate and as the electoral candidate at the head of the list that receives the most votes during the election of the executive council. He/she presides over the work of the executive council.
Other Portuguese local self-government units exist alongside the municipalities and parishes, including authorities such as inter-municipal communities, associations of municipalities and metropolitan areas.
A primary aimthese authorities is to coordinate the municipal investments of inter-municipal interests. Otherareas of competence include strategic, economic, social and territorial management.
Competences:
The parish assembly (assembleia de freguesia) is the deliberative body of the parish and is composed of councillors elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year period via a system of proportional representation.
Municipalities:
The municipal assembly (assembleia municipal) is made up of the presidents of the municipality’s parishes and of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term. It is the municipality’s deliberative body and monitors the activities of the executive council.
Parishes:
The executive committee (junta de freguesia) is the parish’s executive body and members are elected for a period of four years by and from among the parish assembly’s members. The executive committee is responsible for preparing and implementing parish assembly decisions.
Municipalities:
The executive council (câmara municipal) is the municipality’s executive branch and is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year period. Its members can also take part in the municipal assembly; however, they cannot vote. The executive council organises and implements municipal services, such as municipal planning and public works.
Parishes:
The president (presidente da junta de freguesia) is elected for a four-year mandate based on he/she being the head of the list that receives the most votes. The president chairs the executive committee.
Municipalities:
The mayor (presidente da câmara municipal) is elected for a four-year mandate and as the electoral candidate at the head of the list that receives the most votes during the election of the executive council. He/she presides over the work of the executive council.
Other Portuguese local self-government units exist alongside the municipalities and parishes, including authorities such as inter-municipal communities, associations of municipalities and metropolitan areas.
A primary aimthese authorities is to coordinate the municipal investments of inter-municipal interests. Otherareas of competence include strategic, economic, social and territorial management.
Competences:
- Rural and urban infrastructure
- Education
- Culture, leisure and sport
- Primary health care
- Social action
- Civil protection
- Environment
- Development
- Urban and rural planning
- Community protection
- Investments

The legislative assembly (assembleia legislativa) is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage.
The president (president do governo regional) presides over the regional government for a period of four years.
The president (president do governo regional) presides over the regional government for a period of four years.
CEMR in Portugal
National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP)Secretary General: Rui SOLHEIRO
Associaçao Nacional de Municipios Portugueses
Av. Marnoco e Sousa 52, 3004-511 Coimbra
Tel.: +351 239 404 434
Fax: +351 239 701 862
E-mail: anmp@anmp.pt
Web: www.anmp.pt
Associaçao Nacional de Municipios Portugueses
Av. Marnoco e Sousa 52, 3004-511 Coimbra
Tel.: +351 239 404 434
Fax: +351 239 701 862
E-mail: anmp@anmp.pt
Web: www.anmp.pt