Ayuntamiento

Ayuntamiento (Spanish pronunciation: [aʝuntaˈmjento])[note 1] is the general term for the town council or cabildo of a municipality,[1] or sometimes the municipality itself, in Spain and Latin America. Historically "ayuntamiento" was often preceded by the word excelentísimo (English: "most excellent"), when referring to the council. This phrase is often abbreviated "Exc.mo Ay.to"

In Catalan-speaking parts of Spain, municipalities generally use the Catalan cognate, ajuntament, while Galician ones use the word concello, Astur-Leonese conceyu and Basque udaletxea. Ayuntamiento is mainly used in Spain; in Latin America alcaldía is also for municipal governing bodies, especially the executive ones, where the legislative body and an executive one are two separate entities.

In Latin America several terms exist for the legislative bodies of municipalities. The term consejo is used in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Peru. In Mexico the term ayuntamiento is for the council. Puerto Rican municipalities have a legislatura municipal. In Peru the term ayuntamiento is never used. It is Municipalidad or Consejo Provincial o Distrital executive functions in most of these countries is handled by an executive alcalde, the Mayor (not to be confused with the historic alcalde, who was a magistrate).

Since ayuntamiento is a metonym for the building in which the council meets, it also translates to "city/town hall" in English.

Ayuntamiento is also a term for a traditional bean and cheese burrito dish.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Geoffrey Pivateau, "AYUNTAMIENTO," Handbook of Texas Online , accessed July 18, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.

Notes

  1. ↑ In other languages of Spain:
    • Catalan Ajuntament (IPA: [əʒuntəˈmen]).
    • Galician Concello (IPA: [konˈθeʎo]).
    • Basque Udaletxea (IPA: [udaletʃea]).
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