In this Law, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Minister: Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

• Ministry: Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

• Law: Law of Municipal Councils.

• Regulations: Implementing Regulations of this Law.

• Elections Regulations: Regulations for electing municipal council members.

• Campaign Regulations: Regulations for election campaigns.

• Council: Municipal Council.

• Municipality: Municipality or sub-municipality, as the case may be, that enjoys a legal personality and financial and administrative independence and exercises the duties assigned thereto under the Law of Municipalities and Villages and its implementing regulations.

• Electoral District: An area for which one or more electoral seats are allocated. Election Period: The period that begins on the commencement date of the electoral process, as determined by the Minister, and ends on the date on which the decision naming council members is issued.

• Electoral Roll: A list that includes the names of voters in a given electoral district.

• Election Committees: Committees tasked with managing, overseeing, or carrying out the electoral process.

• Review Committees: Committees tasked with deciding electoral challenges and violations.

• Ballot Date: The day on which voters cast their votes to choose members of the council.

• Day: A business day.

The council shall enjoy a legal personality and financial and administrative independence and shall report to the Minister. The Minister may delegate some of his powers to whomever he deems fit from among Ministry employees.

The council shall exercise its decision making and monitoring powers in accordance with the provisions of this Law and its Regulations and within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality.

The council shall, within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality, approve the following municipal plans and programs:

• 1. Execution of municipal projects approved in the budget.

• 2. Execution of operation and maintenance projects.

• 3. Execution of development and investment projects.

• 4. Municipal service programs and projects.

The council shall approve the municipality’s budget in accordance with the statutory procedures and the Regulations.

The council shall, upon review, approve the municipality’s final accounts in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Regulations.

The council shall review the following matters and submit recommendations thereon to the relevant authorities:

• 1. Structural, residential, and regulatory proposals.

• 2. Scope of municipal services.

• 3. Expropriation for public interest.

• 4. Merging of two or more sub-municipalities, or splitting a sub-municipality into two or more sub-municipalities.

• 5. Municipal fees and fines.

• 6. Requirements and conditions for construction as well as land use regulations.

• 7. Public health standards and conditions.

• 8. Establishing branch and service offices for a sub-municipality.

• 9. Any matter referred thereto by the Minister.

The council shall exercise its powers in monitoring the municipality’s performance and services through the following:

• 1. Periodic performance reports provided by the municipality.

• 2. Reports on projects under development.

• 3. Reports on the collection of municipal revenues.

• 4. Reports on municipal investments.

• 5. Suggestions or complaints received by the council relating to municipal services.

• 6. Reports on field visits carried out by specialized committees formed by the council, at its discretion or upon the request of its members, to inspect municipal projects.

• 7. Review the procedures for land division and for residential land granting to ensure their integrity.