Andorra 1993 Constitution

TITLE VI. TERRITORIAL STRUCTURE

Article 79

1. The Local Councils, as organs of representation and administration of the Parishes, are public corporations with legal status and with local regulatory powers subject to law by means of ordinances, regulations and decrees. Within the area of their jurisdiction subject to the Constitution, the laws and tradition, the Local Councils function under the principle of self-government, recognised and guaranteed by the Constitution.
2. The Local Councils represent the interests of the Parishes, approve and carry out the communal budget, fix and develop their public policies within the bounds of their territory and manage and administer all parish property, whether in the communal, public, patrimonial or private domain.
3. Their ruling organs are elected democratically.

Article 80

1. Within the framework of their administrative and financial autonomy, the Local Councils have their powers delimited by a Qualified Law, at least in the following matters:
   1. Population census.
   2. Electoral roll. Participation in the management of the electoral procedure and administration under the terms provided for by the law.
   3. Popular consultations.
   4. Commerce, industry and professional activities.
   5. Delimitation of the communal territory.
   6. Property of their own, and of the communal public domain.
   7. Natural resources.
   8. Cadastral register.
   9. Local planning.
   10. Public thoroughfares.
   11. Culture, sports and social activities.
   12. Communal public services.
2. Within the framework of the State’s power to impose taxes, the aforementioned Qualified Law determines the economic and fiscal faculties of the Local Councils needed for the exercise of their jurisdiction. These faculties shall deal at least, with the use and exploitation of natural resources, traditional tributes, and with the taxes for communal services, administrative licences, establishment of commercial, industrial and professional activities and real estate.
3. Matters under the jurisdiction of the State may be delegated to the Parishes by law.

Article 81

In order ensure the economic capacity of the Local Councils, a Qualified Law shall determine the transfer of funds from the General Budget to the Local Councils, and guarantee that one part of these funds be apportioned in equal quantities to each of the Parishes, and the other part to be shared proportionally on grounds of population, extension of their territory and other indicators.

Article 82

1. Conflicts arising from the interpretation or exercise of jurisdiction between the general organs of the State and the Local Councils shall be settled by the Tribunal Constitucional.
2. The acts of the Local Councils shall be directly enforced through the means established by law. Against such acts administrative and jurisdictional appeals may be lodged with the purpose of controlling their conformity with the legal system.

Article 83

The Local Councils have legislative initiative and are entitled to lodge appeals of unconstitutionality under the terms provided for in the Constitution.

Article 84

The laws shall take into account custom and usage in order to determine the jurisdiction of Districts and Neighborhoods, as well as their relationship with the Local Councils.