municipal council / council member
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municipal council
The elected political body that represents the citizens of a municipality and decides on local matters.
Der Gemeinderat hat den Bau des neuen Kindergartens beschlossen.
The municipal council approved the construction of the new kindergarten.
'Der Gemeinderat' (municipal council / council member) consists of 'die Gemeinde' (a town or village/municipality) and 'der Rat' (here in the sense of 'body' or 'council'). So it is the body that politically leads a municipality.
Der Gemeinderat trifft sich einmal im Monat im Rathaus.
The municipal council meets once a month at the town hall.
You can tell whether the body (m01) or a person (m02) is meant from the verb. If the subject acts as a group ('der Gemeinderat beschließt' — the municipal council decides), the body is meant. If it refers to a person ('er ist Gemeinderat' — he is a council member), a member is meant.
Der Gemeinderat hat den neuen Plan einstimmig angenommen.
The municipal council unanimously approved the new plan.
When 'Gemeinderat' (municipal council) refers to the body, it is often combined with verbs that describe a collective action. These include: 'tagen' (to meet/be in session), 'beschließen' (to decide/approve), 'entscheiden' (to decide), 'zustimmen' (to agree/approve), or 'ablehnen' (to reject).
Der Gemeinderat tagt heute Abend, um über das Budget zu beraten.
The municipal council is meeting this evening to discuss the budget.
advice / council
'der Rat' and 'der Gemeinderat' can both refer to a council, that is, a group that discusses issues and makes decisions. However, 'Rat' is more general and also has the meaning 'advice'. 'Gemeinderat' is more specific: it belongs to a municipality and makes decisions about local issues. In addition, 'Gemeinderat' can also refer to an individual person from this council. The words can be confused because 'Rat' is part of 'Gemeinderat'. If you mean advice, you only say 'Rat'. If you mean politics in a municipality, 'Gemeinderat' is more precise.
Der Gemeinderat diskutiert am Montag über den Bau einer neuen Schule.
The municipal council is discussing the construction of a new school on Monday.
Der Rat der Stadt entscheidet nächste Woche über den neuen Park.
The city council will decide on the new park next week.