The internal organisation of local government

Local Government Organisation Act determines the general principles of the institutional structure and administration of local authorities. The statute (põhimäärus) of each local authority prescribes the institutional structure and rules of procedure of the specific local authority. As the acts define the area quite broadly local authorities are practising different rules of procedure.

The council (volikogu) and the government (valitsus) are the bodies of local government in each municipality.

Municipal council
The municipal council (volikogu) is the legislative body of a local authority. The council is elected at general, uniform and direct elections by secret ballot for a term of four years. The current council determines the number of members in the following council. The number depends on the population of a local authority (min 7 members).

The council may form both standing and ad hoc committees (alaline/ajutine komisjon) as determined in the statute of a local authority. Law prescribes only the formation of an audit committee (revisjonikomisjon). The chairmen of all committees and all members of the audit committee must be elected from among the council members.

Chairman (volikogu esimees) is the head of the council. The majority of the council elects the chairman of the council by secret ballot. The chairman organises the work of the council, represents the council and fulfils ther duties imposed by law or municipal statute.

There are political fractions within many municipal councils.

The management of the following issues is within the exclusive competence of the municipal council:

• decisions related to the budget, taxes, fees and duties, loans, tax incentives, foundations of the local government;
• decisions related to municipal property;
• approval of the development plan and the statute of the local government;
• alteration of the boundaries of a local government, formation of municipal districts;
• decisions on general issues concerning municipal council and government (election of the chairman of the council and the mayor, confirmation of a new municipality, determination of the wage conditions for the council and government etc);
• approval of building regulations, drafting comprehensive plans and detailed plans.

Municipal government
The government is the collegial executive body of the local authority. The government is appointed to office for the period of the authorities of the municipal council. The head of a government is the Mayor (linnapea, vallavanem), who is elected and released by council.

The members of the government are confirmed to office on the proposal of the municipal mayor. The mayor is leading the government according to law. The government may include municipal employees or political appointees. Members of the council cannot be members of the government. The council has the right not to confirm the members of the government but it may not, however, make alterations to the membership of the government at its own initiative.