Local Government in EstoniaSee alsoEstonia is territorially divided into counties, rural municipalities and cities. Estonia has a one-tier local government system since 1993. There are 15 counties and 226 municipalities among which there are 33 cities and 193 rural municipalities. Rural municipalities and cities form the first, local level of Estonian public administration. All local governments operate within a county. The size of local governments is very different. The biggest municipality is the capital city Tallinn. Two thirds of local government units have less than 3000 inhabitants. According to The European Charter of Local Self-Government and The Local Government Organization Act local government is defined as the right, authority and duty of the democratically formed bodies of power to independently organise and manage local issues. pursuant to law and based on the legitimate needs and interests of the residents of the rural municipality or city, and considering the specific development of the rural municipality or city. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia local governments resolve all local issues, operating independently pursuant to law. Duties may be imposed at local government only pursuant to the law or by agreement with the local government. Expenditure related to duties of the state imposed by law on a local government shall be funded from the state budget. Rural municipalities and cities are of equal legal status. Local authority units have the right to form rural municipality districts and city districts on their territory to decentralize power, the procedure is regulated by the Local Government Organization Act. Examples of this right are Tallinn and Kohtla-Järve, which have formed city districts. Also, some rural municipalities have formed rural municipality districts. Municipalities have the right to form and the right to be members of voluntary associations at county and state level. The interests of the state in the county are represented by the county governor. The distribution of local governments by population (01.01.2011)
The area and population of Estonian counties (01.01.2011)
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