Ensuring political autonomy of local governments and the right to organise their administration and establish local entities

Local governments can regulate their organisational structure

Review of the law on local self-government to determine if the legislation establishes the right for local governments to regulate the organisational structure of their administration.

Local governments can establish (municipal) organisations, enterprises, and other legal entities

Review of the law on local self-government to determine if the legislation stipulates the right of local governments to establish, control and abolish local enterprises and other legal entities.

Local governments can hire staff and regulate their professional conditions in line with legislation

Review of the law on local self-government and/or law regulating civil service to determine if the legislation establishes the right of local governments to recruit and manage their staff under the conditions established by law.

Local government councillors are elected in direct elections, independent from the central government

Review of the law on local self-government and/or law on elections to determine if the legislation establishes that municipal council members are elected in direct elections. This criterion also includes indirectly elected councils, i.e., higher-level (but still local self-government) councils, whose representatives are elected or appointed by representatives from (lower level) municipal councils. Also, in federalist countries, it can be legislation of the next higher level (not only central level).

Local executive bodies are elected by the council (indirectly) or by the citizens (directly)

Review of the law on local self-government and/or law on elections to determine if the legislation stipulates the direct election of the executive body (mayor) by citizens or indirect election of the executive body (mayor) by the municipal council.

Local governments can regulate elements of the political system in line with the law

Review of the law on elections to determine if the legislation establishes the right of local governments to regulate some elements of the political system (electoral districts, number of members of the council, etc.) in line with national legislation.

Local governments are free to choose tasks in addition to mandated responsibilities not assigned to other levels of government

Review of legislation to determine if it stipulates the right of local governments to perform tasks not assigned to other levels of government in addition to mandated responsibilities. These tasks may include the following examples (not exclusive list): - Can design and set standards for services within the limits of law - Can set up their own inspection or supervision - Can adopt local strategies and policies in line with national priorities